“,” Minister Angie Motshekga said on Friday, in response to a question about whether South Africa was considering withdrawing its troops. Reports said.

She said that heads of state from the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the East African Community would be meeting soon to pronounce on the topic.

“South Africa works under the leadership of these bodies, and its decision to withdraw or not will be informed by processes and decisions of these bodies,” she said in a text message.

South Africa’s intervention in Congo has drawn heavy criticism at home after the fall of Goma in January, leaving South African soldiers surrounded and with no clear exit strategy.

Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq