THE co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Malusi Gigaba and Phiroane Phala, have expressed strong support for the recent decision made at the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to terminate the mandate of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

This decision comes in the wake of a worsening security situation in the eastern region of the DRC, and it follows the tragic death of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers while on duty there.

The co-chairpersons have emphasised that the termination of the SAMIDRC's mandate should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the DRC. Instead, they assert it is a strategic move to pivot towards diplomatic solutions aimed at achieving sustained peace and stability in the region.

“The recommitment by SADC Heads of State to support other interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace and security in the DRC reaffirms our belief that dialogue should be placed at the centre of efforts to resolve the DRC conflict,” Gigaba stated, highlighting the connection between peace and economic development for both the DRC and the broader region.

As part of the renewed diplomatic approach, the committee has welcomed SADC's continued collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) to merge ongoing peace efforts — notably the Luanda and Nairobi processes — in pursuit of peace-building initiatives in the DRC.

Despite the positive steps forward, the co-chairpersons expressed concern regarding the details surrounding the phased withdrawal of SANDF soldiers from SAMIDRC, which remain ambiguous at this time.

They have called for an urgent meeting with Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to obtain clarity on the plan's specifics and to address potential security risks associated with the withdrawal, especially for those soldiers who will continue their deployment under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

“We will schedule an urgent meeting to get the envisioned phased plan of action to implement the decision by Heads of State,” Phala affirmed.

“This meeting must also address the implications of the withdrawal related to the soldiers that will remain part of MONUSCO, as well as the assessment of the associated security risks.”

Further complications around the withdrawal pertain to the safe return of the SANDF's Prime Mission Equipment, which must be carefully navigated given the unpredictable security dynamics prevailing in eastern DRC.

The committee reiterated its appeals for all parties involved in the DRC conflict to commit to a ceasefire, underscoring the necessity of dialogue to resolve the ongoing strife.

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Ending the SADC mission in DRC: Committee calls for renewed diplomatic focus