General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), confirmed the development during a media briefing in Pretoria. He emphasised that the decision to withdraw was not a retreat from the peace mission, but a move guided by broader regional strategy.

“This is not SA abandoning its commitment to peace in the DRC,” Maphwanya said. “The withdrawal forms part of a joint decision taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community as we work towards a lasting solution in the region.”

He said the SANDF had informed M23 leaders during a meeting in Goma that SA would be pulling out its forces and equipment without conditions. The move follows recent diplomatic progress, and a formal agreement aimed at easing tensions in the area.

“The engagement that we had with the M23 when we went to Goma was to tell them that we are going to withdraw our personnel and equipment unconditionally. That element was informed by the developments that were taking place. We have seen that there was an agreement that had been signed,” Maphwanya added.

SA’s military involvement in the DRC has been part of a regional peacekeeping mission under SADC, focused on stabilising conflict-affected provinces in the east of the country.

-ChannelAfrica--