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News

SA troops were not caught in crossfire but were attacked, clarifies SANDF Chief

todayJanuary 30, 2025 61

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SANDF Chief, General Rudzani Maphanywa, has refuted the Defence Minister’s claims that South African soldiers were killed in a crossfire amid the raging conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Maphanywa says the Rwandan-backed, M23 militant group, launched a full-scale attack on SANDF members in an attempt to gain access into Goma, the biggest city in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.

At least 13 SANDF members were killed in the fierce fighting last week.

The decades-long civil war has wreaked havoc in the east of the DRC, leaving millions of people killed and displaced.

At the heart of the conflict is a mix of regional rivalry, ethnic tensions and competition for resources.

Maphanywa says South Africa remains steadfast in supporting all peace-building efforts and averting a humanitarian crisis.

His remarks came just hours after Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, came out guns blazing against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He accused him of lying and distorting the truth after the two leaders had phone calls on the conflict this week.

“What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies,” said Kagame.

“President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) did.”

Kagame has threatened South Africa with war, saying they are in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker.

Former EFF MP, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, is among those who weighed in on the tense situation, calling for cool heads.

He urged both Kigali and Pretoria to stop the war talk.

The scholar says South African troops must stick to the mandate of a peacekeeping mission in eastern DRC, and if they are failing, they must admit and retreat.

He urged African leaders to use diplomatic channels and do everything in their power to resolve the eastern DRC problem peacefully.

“Africa needs to be at peace with itself, PERIOD! War mongering is futile and ill-informed.”

International relations expert, Professor Sphamandla Zondi, has labelled Kagame’s remarks as a deflection tactic.

Zondi says Rwanda’s first citizen is trying to create a storm in a teacup.

“I think what Kagame is trying to do is place SA at the centre of the controversy, well actually Rwanda is at the centre of it. We look at the statements of the UN Security Council and others, who say, Rwanda is there illegitimately and is promoting rebellion and harming the sovereignty of a neighbouring country.”

Professor Zondi says Rwanda is responding to a suggestion that never existed by saying South Africa seeks to be mediators in the war.

Another analyst, Mbara Mvenene, says Rwanda should be held accountable for its alleged support of the M23 rebels and exacerbating the civil war in eastern DRC.

“Evidence from the UN, the EU and others shows that Rwanda is not only providing military backing but is actively controlling and directing M23 operations. Rwanda’s role in destabilising the DRC for both political and economic gains, especially through the exploitation of the region’s resources is central to the ongoing war,” he adds.

Former president, Thabo Mbeki, has called on both Kagame and DRC President, Felix Tshisekedi, to handle the situation better.

Sharing his thoughts on the conflict, Mbeki says it’s important for the central government in Congo to look after all populations without excluding any ethnicity.

“President Tshisekedi should say, I’m president of all of the people of Congo including the Banyamulenge, and then they need to do whatever they can, the government in Kinshasa to improve his capacity to govern the eastern part of Congo.”

Diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Kigali have been tense for years due to several attacks on Rwandan exiles in South Africa, although Kagame’s government has denied ever trying to kill Kigali’s exiles on South African soil.

 

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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