The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will officially repatriate the remains of soldiers killed during peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
SANDF hand-over ceremony details confirmed
A hand-over ceremony and memorial service will be held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Thursday, 13 February 2025.
While the exact time is yet to be confirmed, the event will mark the return of fallen soldiers who lost their lives in one of Africa’s most volatile conflicts.
The SANDF soldiers, who were part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), were killed in clashes with the M23 rebel group, which has seized control of key territories in eastern DRC.
Some of the soldiers were also deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.
The South African government has extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, vowing to continue diplomatic efforts to stabilize the DRC despite rising calls for the withdrawal of SANDF forces.
Calls grow for SA army to withdraw from DRC
Pressure is mounting on the South African government to pull its forces out of the DRC, with multiple political parties calling for an immediate exit.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Action SA, UDM, Bosa, and ATM have all criticised the continued deployment of troops, citing poor planning, lack of resources, and increasing fatalities.
DA defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh said the SANDF troops were sent into battle unprepared, fighting alongside Congolese government forces against the highly trained and well-equipped M23 rebels.
Hattingh further argued that the troops were not part of a structured peacekeeping mission, contradicting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s claims that they were defending civilians.
However, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga defended the mission, stating that South Africa’s commitment to peacekeeping in Africa has been a core pillar of its foreign policy since 1997.
She made it clear that helping stabilise eastern DRC is in South Africa’s interest, as it could help prevent further refugee crises.
Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola also warned against an immediate withdrawal, saying it could leave SANDF troops vulnerable to ambushes by armed groups operating in the area.
Lamola stated that the government would adhere to the roadmap set by the SADC and East African Community (EAC) summit, which recently called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridors for evacuations.
The latest on the DRC war
The situation in eastern DRC remains highly unstable, with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advancing on key cities. At the end of January 2025, M23 forces seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, forcing Congolese troops into retreat. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of deploying 4,000 troops to support the rebels, a claim supported by United Nations reports.
During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner demanded tougher action against Rwanda, urging the international community to condemn external interference.
However, the UN’s official statement failed to mention Rwanda by name, instead calling for the withdrawal of all “external forces.”
As of last week, at least 2,900 people have been killed in clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese government forces, with reports of further displacement and humanitarian crises.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the worst may be yet to come if international peace efforts fail.
Despite the SADC and EAC summit’s call for a ceasefire, tensions between Rwanda and the DRC remain at an all-time high.