President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that South Africa will prolong the presence of its military personnel in conflict-stricken Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The extension, duration unspecified, entails maintaining 1,198 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in eastern Congo. They form part of a U.N. peacekeeping contingent aiding Congo in combating rebel factions.
Additionally, 1,495 SANDF members will persist in their operations in Mozambique. Since 2021, they have been assisting the government’s efforts to counter violent extremism in the northern regions.
South Africa’s military engagements overseas have faced scrutiny at home, particularly following the loss of two SANDF soldiers and injury of three others by a mortar bomb in Congo this February. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has criticized Ramaphosa for allegedly dispatching troops to a conflict zone without adequate preparation.