The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has begun withdrawing its troops and equipment from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they were deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission.
The withdrawal follows months of controversy after 14 South African soldiers were killed in January when M23 rebels attacked their base. The SANDF’s deployment had faced criticism over alleged poor planning and insufficient support for troops.
Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala, SANDF’s corporate communications director, denied claims of disorganization, stating the withdrawal was based on a “technical assessment.” He confirmed that an advance team had safely crossed into Tanzania via Rwanda on April 29, with no reported challenges.
However, reports suggest that M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—stopped and searched SANDF convoys, a claim Tshabalala dismissed as “unfounded.” He assured that all equipment was accounted for and that injured soldiers were receiving medical care, with only four still hospitalized in stable condition.
The SANDF maintains the withdrawal is proceeding as planned, despite lingering questions over operational setbacks.