The fifth group of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops has returned to the country after a peacekeeping deployment in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to EWN, a total of 258 soldiers landed at Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein this morning, 20 June, marking another phase of the withdrawal following the end of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission.
This comes after troops had been stationed in North Kivu since December 2023 as part of a regional effort to stabilise the conflict-ridden area.
Their return follows a ceasefire agreement between the DRC military and the M23 rebel group, paving the way for SADC’s exit.
SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala confirmed the safe arrival of the soldiers and indicated that more are expected to return in the coming days.
However, the mission was not without sacrifice; earlier this year, 14 South African soldiers were killed in clashes with the M23 rebels. The incident underscored the volatile security situation in the region.
With the SADC mission now concluded, the phased withdrawal of troops signals a shift in regional peacekeeping efforts. The SANDF’s return highlights both the challenges and commitments of South Africa’s military engagements abroad.
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Picture: SANDF / Facebook
