Cape Town: International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has dismissed the proposal to withdraw South African soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stating that this action would be worse than surrender. Lamola addressed Parliament during an urgent debate regarding the deployment of South African troops to the DRC.
According to South African Government News Agency, this special session was called following the deaths of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in the eastern part of the DRC, as families await the repatriation of their loved ones. Lamola emphasized that an abrupt withdrawal would not be a tactical retreat but worse than surrender, given the presence of numerous armed groups in the area that could lead to ambushes.
Lamola stated that the South African government welcomes comments from leaders of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East Africa Community (EAC), who called for a ceasefire and dialogue in the DRC over the weekend. This follows a SADC – EAC Heads of State and Government Summit on the security situation in the eastern DRC, in which President Cyril Ramaphosa also took part.
The Minister believes that the recent summit of SADC and the EAC has clarified the way forward regarding the conflict in the eastern DRC. He highlighted South Africa’s involvement in peace missions across the continent, including efforts in Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and South Sudan, aligning with the vision 2063 for a peaceful Africa. He reminded MPs of the 2001 peace efforts during the Sun City talks, which led to a new constitutional order and nearly two decades of peace in the DRC.
The SANDF soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), which aims to help restore peace, security, and stability in Africa’s second-largest country. According to Lamola, the DRC is more peaceful now than before, and the conflict is confined to an isolated region.
Lamola criticized the notion of not resolving conflicts in Africa as simplistic and nave, stressing that neglecting these critical situations undermines peace, security, and economic prosperity. He emphasized South Africa’s role in maintaining peace and economic stability, not only for its benefit but also for the prosperity of neighboring countries on the continent.
The Minister also took time to honor the country’s fallen heroes, as well as members of the Malawian, Tanzanian, and Uruguayan defense forces, acknowledging the tragedy that has affected not only the South African defense force but also the United Nations and SADC missions.