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SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) is an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1]

SADC Mission in the DRC
Misheni ya SADC nchini Kongo (Swahili)
Eastern DR Congo
Active15 December 2023 – present
Countries
Allegiance SADC
RoleArmed peacekeeping
Part ofSADC Standby Brigade
EngagementsM23 offensive (2022–present)
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAtlas Oryx

Operation Thiba includes soldiers from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi. They will replace the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the DRC for 25 years as well as a recent East African Community deployment.[2]

Tanzania and Malawi have committed 2 100 troops to the mission.[3] South Africa has committed 2,900 troops to the mission,[4] of the country's 38 572[5] active army personnel. Based on South African Army standard operating procedures,[6] if 2 900 South African troops are in active combat theatre, 2 900 rehearsing (preparing to replace active duty personnel) and 2 900 in rest and recuperation (R&R), then South Africa has in effect committed 22.5% of its army personnel capacity to the region for a period of 25-years.

Background

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In 2023, the escalating conflict between the Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) or Congolese military and rebel groups displaced over 6.38 million people in the eastern provinces of the DRC.[7]

The resurgent M23 rebel movement seized swathes of territory, and neither the United Nations peacekeeping mission nor the East African regional force could help the FARDC stop their advance.[8]

In December 2023, Congo said SADC troops were mandated "to support the Congolese army in fighting and eradicating the M23 and other armed groups that continue to disrupt peace and security."[9]

Troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi started deploying in Sake and surrounding areas near Goma in December 2023.[10]

Incidents and casualties

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  • 15 February 2024: Two South African soldiers died and three sustained injuries in a mortar strike near the eastern city of Goma.[11]
  • 1 March 2024: A soldier of the South African National Defence Force shot and killed his colleague with his service firearm before turning the gun on himself and killing himself : 2 casualties
  • 4 April 2024: A South African soldier died in hospital after a short illness.[12]
  • 6 April 2024: Three Tanzanian soldiers died after a hostile mortar round had fallen near their camp.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Deployment of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo" (Press release). Gaborone, Botswana: SADC. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  2. ^ "South Africa Risks Showdown With Rwanda Over Congo Mission". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  3. ^ Africa, Defence Forum. "Scale of SADC's DRC Mission Raises Concerns". ADF. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ Wafula, Ian. "South African troops killed in DR Congo: What is behind the Sadc deployment?". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ Defence, Web. "SANDF personnel strength – by the numbers". Defence Web. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ Martin, Guy. "6 000 SANDF troops deployed on internal and external missions". Defence Web. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo | OCHA". www.unocha.org. 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  8. ^ "East African regional force starts withdrawing from DRC". France 24. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  9. ^ "Will Félix Tshisekedi deliver war or peace for DR Congo and Rwanda?". 2024-01-20. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  10. ^ ISSAfrica.org (2024-02-09). "Once more into the breach: SADC troops in DRC". ISS Africa. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  11. ^ "South African soldiers killed in DR Congo attack – DW – 02/15/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  12. ^ @SADC_News (April 9, 2024). "[A] South African soldier passed away in Hospital on 04 April 2024 after short illness🕊️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @SADC_News (April 8, 2024). "Press Release" (Tweet) – via Twitter.


 

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