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The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Southern African Development Community (SADC) decision to withdraw troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is a step in the right direction after the dire conditions our soldiers have been enduring.

The DA has long advocated for the withdrawal of troops, especially following the intense battles between January 23-25, after which our soldiers were left surrounded by the M23 rebels with no logistical support for 48 days. In this time, they were deprived of food, medical supplies, and were forced to rely on the goodwill of M23 for survival.

This decision, while welcomed, will be complicated. We call on Minister Motshekga to ensure that significant amounts of combat equipment, which could fall into the hands of M23 rebels, are not left behind. The withdrawal must be executed carefully, ensuring that no sensitive equipment is left exposed to our adversaries.

M23 has already demonstrated their dominance in the region, showcasing their power not only to the people of South Africa but to the entire world. The SADC’s acknowledgment of this reality and the subsequent decision to end the mission is a necessary step, but it raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of the mission itself.

Furthermore, the painful process of repatriating our fallen soldiers has left much to be desired. It took 117 days for our soldiers' bodies to be returned to Pretoria, while critically wounded soldiers required 31 days of waiting before receiving the necessary treatment at 1 Military Hospital. This delay is unacceptable and highlights the logistical and humanitarian shortcomings of the mission.

The lessons learned from this DRC deployment must be fully recorded and reflected on. We can not let this happen again.

As the situation in the DRC evolves, the DA will continue to monitor developments closely and advocate for the best interests of our soldiers and the South African public.

Issued by Chris Hattingh MP - DA Spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans