Following a lightning onslaught, the rebel forces of M23 movement allegedly backed by Rwanda took control of nearly the whole city of Goma, a vital hub for the trade of minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in late January 2025.

South Africa's Military Presence in DRC Hinges on African Regional Decisions, Says Defense Minister

16:22, 8 March 2025

Christina Glazkova

Writer / Editor

All materials

Earlier, South Africa's FM Ronald Lamola stated that his country will refrain from hastily withdrawing its military contingent, which is part of the SADC forces, from the eastern regions of the DRC. He added that there will be no fleeing of the South African contingent from the DRC.

Sputnik

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are preparing for the second meeting of member state leaders this year to address the situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South African Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister Angelina Motshekga told a Western media outlet.

"There is an evaluation process underway," she said, noting that SADC and the EAC play a primary role in decision-making regarding the South African contingent. "South Africa works under the leadership of these bodies and its decision to withdraw or not will be informed by the processes and decisions of these bodies."

Furthermore, the SADC and the EAC are preparing a second meeting of member country leaders this year to discuss the situation in the eastern DRC, she added, according to the report. The first joint summit between SADC and the AU on the situation in the DRC was held last month. During the meeting, key decisions were made to stabilize the eastern DRC and the broader region.

Sub-Saharan Africa

South African Armed Forces Clarifies: 14 Soldiers Who Died in DRC Were Not Killed in Active Combat

6 February, 17:44

At the end of January, during the defense of the cities of Goma and Sake in eastern DRC from advancing rebels, 14 South African soldiers were killed, and several dozen others were injured. The soldiers did not die in battles with the rebels but as a result of crossfire between Congolese and Rwandan regular troops, the South African National Defense Force clarified last month.

At the end of 2023, the DRC authorities reached an agreement with SADC to deploy a contingent from the community in the eastern part of the country to counteract the rebels. SADC forces have a mandate to directly engage in combat operations. The South African contingent in eastern DRC numbers up to 1,800 personnel. The SADC forces also include military personnel from Malawi and Tanzania.