South Africa’s Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has indicated that the country’s military involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be reassessed amid ongoing regional discussions.
“There is an evaluation process underway,” Motshekga told media on Friday when asked whether South Africa was considering withdrawing its troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the DRC, where forces are deployed to counter Rwanda-backed rebels.
She added that heads of state from SADC and the East African Community are set to meet soon to deliberate on the mission’s future.
“South Africa operates under the leadership of these bodies, and any decision to withdraw or remain will be guided by their processes and resolutions,” she said in a text message.
South Africa’s deployment has faced mounting criticism domestically, particularly after the fall of Goma in January left its soldiers encircled without a clear exit strategy.