South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the deployment of 2,900 members of the South African National Defence Force to assist in the fight against illegal armed groups in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The deployment, authorized under the provisions of section 201(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, is set to span from December 15, 2023, to December 15, 2024. The decision comes as part of South Africa’s commitment to supporting the SADC mission in the DRC.
The budgeted expenditure for this deployment is just over R2 billion, and it is explicitly stated that this allocation will not impact the provisions for the defense force’s regular maintenance and emergency repairs. The President’s office emphasized that the financial commitment is a reflection of South Africa’s dedication to regional stability and security.
The obligation to contribute troops to the SADC mission in the DRC is shared among all SADC member states, demonstrating a collective effort to address the challenges posed by illegal armed groups in the region. The deployment of South African forces aims to contribute to the ongoing peacekeeping and stabilization efforts in the Eastern DRC.
This announcement was officially issued by the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, underscoring the government’s commitment to regional cooperation and stability.
