The first group of South African troops deployed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under a regional peacekeeping mission has returned home, the defence ministry announced on Friday night.
Footage released by the ministry showed uniformed troops dancing and chanting as they disembarked at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria. They were met with cheers and fist bumps from airbase personnel, marking a jubilant homecoming after months of deployment.
The soldiers were part of a military mission organised by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), launched in December 2023 to help quell violence and restore order in the conflict-ridden, mineral-rich region of eastern DRC.
However, the SADC decided in March to wind down its military presence following the deaths of 17 troops during the operation.
The deteriorating security situation was exacerbated by renewed fighting earlier this year, as the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group captured significant territory across the North and South Kivu provinces.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, speaking to journalists on Friday, confirmed that 249 troops had returned in this initial repatriation phase. She assured the public that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was working closely with regional partners to retrieve all military equipment.
“We shall not leave even a pin behind,” Motshekga said, echoing the words of SANDF chief General Rudzani Maphwanya, who previously described the troop withdrawal as a “technical move” to allow diplomatic efforts and peace negotiations to progress.
The troop withdrawal comes during increasing domestic pressure, following the deaths of 14 South African soldiers in January. Most were part of the SADC deployment, although at least two were serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in the area. Troops from Malawi and Tanzania also suffered casualties during the mission.
The return of the troops marks a significant chapter in South Africa’s involvement in the DRC conflict, which continues to draw concern from regional powers and humanitarian groups alike.
