https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250130/south-africa-warns-of-threat-of-war-if-rwanda-attacks-its-troops-in-dr-congo-1070428480.html
South Africa Warns of Threat of War If Rwanda Attacks Its Troops in DR Congo
South Africa Warns of Threat of War If Rwanda Attacks Its Troops in DR Congo
Sputnik Africa
Recently, media reports from the DRC have revealed that M23 rebels have seized several cities, including Goma, which fell on Sunday. The conflict has resulted... 30.01.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-01-30T14:12+0100
2025-01-30T14:12+0100
2025-01-30T16:05+0100
sub-saharan africa
south africa
rwanda
cyril ramaphosa
paul kagame
democratic republic of the congo (drc)
southern africa development community (sadc)
death toll
southern africa
east africa
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned Rwandan President Paul Kagame that any armed attack by Rwandan military forces on the South African troop contingent stationed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces would be considered an act of war, South African Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Angelina Motshekga said following an extended government meeting.On Wednesday, Ramaphosa accused the Rwandan army of being involved in the deaths of 13 South African soldiers near the Congolese city of Goma. The president noted that the presence of the South African contingent in the DRC does not constitute a declaration of war against any state.In turn, Rwandan President Kagame said that he does not rule out confrontation with South Africa due to the situation in eastern DRC. He also called South Africa a participant in the conflict in the DRC, noting that South Africa is conducting combat offensive operations to assist the Congolese government and is cooperating in the DRC with armed groups that threaten Rwanda.At the end of 2023, the authorities of the DRC reached an agreement with the SADC to deploy its forces in the eastern part of the country to counter the rebels. The SADC forces have a mandate for direct involvement in combat operations. South Africa has deployed about 1,100 troops to the eastern DRC. They are currently stationed at a base near the town of Sake, 27 kilometers west of Goma, where a ceasefire with the rebels has been in effect for three days.The total number of South African military personnel killed in the DRC is nearing two dozen. On Wednesday, the South African Ministry of Defense announced that it is working on withdrawing the national contingent from the DRC. The SADC forces also include contingents from Malawi and Tanzania. Pretoria has not ruled out the possibility that the upcoming SADC emergency summit on Thursday may result in a decision to withdraw the community's forces from the DRC.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250130/president-kagame-declares-rwanda-ready-to-confront-south-africa-if-necessary-1070427876.html
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south africa, rwanda, cyril ramaphosa, paul kagame, democratic republic of the congo (drc), southern africa development community (sadc), death toll, southern africa, east africa, central africa
south africa, rwanda, cyril ramaphosa, paul kagame, democratic republic of the congo (drc), southern africa development community (sadc), death toll, southern africa, east africa, central africa
South Africa Warns of Threat of War If Rwanda Attacks Its Troops in DR Congo
14:12 30.01.2025 (Updated: 16:05 30.01.2025) Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
Recently, media reports from the DRC have revealed that M23 rebels have seized several cities, including Goma, which fell on Sunday. The conflict has resulted in over a hundred military deaths, and Goma has been without water, electricity, and mobile communications for days.
South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa warned Rwandan President Paul Kagame that any armed attack by Rwandan military forces on the South African troop contingent stationed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces would be considered an act of war, South African Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Angelina Motshekga said following an extended government meeting.
"The president did warn them [Rwanda], if you are going to fire, we will take it as a declaration of war, and we will have to defend our people," said South African Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Angelina Motshekga, as quoted by the South African news portal Times Live. "That is when the firing also stopped."
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa accused the
Rwandan army of being involved in the deaths of 13 South African soldiers near the Congolese city of Goma. The president noted that the presence of the South African contingent in the DRC does not constitute a declaration of war against any state.
In turn, Rwandan President Kagame said that he does not rule out confrontation with South Africa due to the situation in eastern DRC. He also called South Africa a participant in the conflict in the DRC, noting that South Africa is conducting combat offensive operations to assist the Congolese government and is cooperating in the DRC with armed groups that threaten Rwanda.
At the end of 2023, the authorities of the DRC reached an agreement with the SADC to
deploy its forces in the eastern part of the country to counter the rebels. The SADC forces have a mandate for direct involvement in combat operations. South Africa has deployed about 1,100 troops to the eastern DRC. They are currently stationed at a base near the town of Sake, 27 kilometers west of Goma, where a ceasefire with the rebels has been in effect for three days.
The total number of South African military personnel killed in the DRC is nearing two dozen. On Wednesday, the South African Ministry of Defense announced that it is working on withdrawing the national contingent from the DRC. The SADC forces also include contingents from Malawi and Tanzania. Pretoria has not ruled out the possibility that the upcoming
SADC emergency summit on Thursday may result in a decision to withdraw the community's forces from the DRC.
