EDITORIAL | No need to sugarcoat the withdrawal of SA troops from the DRC — this was a military defeat

Political leaders should interact with honesty when dealing with the public and should admit when things did not go according to plan. 

The withdrawal of South African troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a case in point. 

Defence minister Angie Motshekga would have us believe during the briefing on Sunday that the withdrawal of troops from that war-torn country does not signal the abandonment of the people of the DRC, but is a technical move for continued peace efforts and mediation processes. 

In January, 14 SANDF soldiers were killed in the DRC when M23 rebels launched an all-out attack on the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC's (SAMIDRC) main operating base in Sake and an attack in Goma. As a result, the city of Goma fell to M23. 

It took a few weeks before the bodies of the slain soldiers could be returned to the country, and nearly a month before just more than 100 injured soldiers returned to South Africa for treatment. 

The Sunday Times reported that about 800 soldiers detained in Goma in March described how they were bored, hungry, immobilised, homesick and forgotten. 

One SANDF soldier gave the Sunday Times insight into how the detained South African troops had been spending their time in Goma. He said he saw himself as a prisoner of war.

The final nail in the coffin was in March when Sadc terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the start of phased withdrawal of the troops from the DRC.  

“Even though they do not set foot in our base, they are guarding us. M23 ordered us to stow our weapons and none of us are in uniform. So we don’t have weapons and we cannot have any ammunition.” 

This does not seem like a tactical withdrawal. It looks like someone who has been defeated and is now going home with their tail between their legs. This was a military defeat.

After the fighting that led to the deaths, Motshekga told parliament that South Africa was an integral part of the international community, and recognised that the country's own security, prosperity and sustainability and that of the African continent, were inextricably connected. She said this called for South Africa to play a role in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and development. 

In the same debate, DA MP Chris Hattingh said a successful offensive in the DRC required more troops and equipment, efficient logistics, air power and strategic leadership, none of which the Sadc or the SANDF had demonstrated the ability to provide. 

EFF leader Julius Malema said South African soldiers were engaged in direct combat fighting against the highly armed and strategically superior M23 rebels that had better weaponry, resources and intelligence while South African soldiers were sent into battle without drones, fighter jets and crucial military assets. 

The final nail in the coffin was in March when Sadc terminated the mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the start of phased withdrawal of the troops from the DRC.

A communique issued on March 13 announcing the termination of the mandate noted with grave concern the continued deterioration of the security situation in the eastern DRC, including the capturing of Goma and Bukavu, and the blockage of the main supply routes, making it difficult for humanitarian aid to flow. 

This clearly shows that there was no other way but for troops to withdraw. 

The question to be asked is how is this mission successful when the security environment has deteriorated? How is it correct that a whole subcontinent leaves the lives of people of the eastern DRC to a rebel group or a militia?

We accept that war is expensive and costs lives. In this case, it cost much more, including the lives of children forced to grow up in this forsaken part of our continent.

There will be another conflict on the continent which will require peacekeeping forces. South Africa should ensure that if it decides to send troops to those missions, they have better resources and they are well equipped.