The deaths of 14 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demand not only deep reflection but also a reaffirmation of our commitment to regional peace and security. They served not just as members of the South African National Defence Force but as part of a historic and moral obligation that South Africa carries — to be an active force for peace in our region and continent.
South Africa is not an apathetic bystander in African affairs. We are products of African solidarity. The frontline states — Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia — sacrificed their security, stability and prosperity to help South Africa achieve its liberation from apartheid. It is this history that informs our commitment to peace and justice in Africa.
We have been in the DRC as part of the UN peacekeeping mission (Monusco) since the early 2000s. Our commitment to the Sadc mutual defence pact of 2003, which binds member states to collective action in the face of security threats, impelled us to also join the Sadc mission in the DRC.
The recent attack on our troops is not just an attack on South Africa but on the principles of regional security and stability. Our presence in the DRC is not a matter of political convenience but a commitment to ensuring that the region does not descend into chaos — because instability in the DRC ultimately threatens peace and economic prosperity in Sadc as a whole.
The resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group is a stark reminder of why South Africa must remain resolute in its peacekeeping mission. M23, a Tutsi-led militia backed by external forces, emerged in 2012, claiming to be fighting for the rights of Congolese Tutsis against the government in Kinshasa. The group overran key cities, including Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and threatened to destabilise the entire eastern DRC.
It was South African troops, supported by Rooivalk attack helicopters, that played a decisive role in crushing M23 at Tshanzu Hill
In response, Sadc, under the UN Force Intervention Brigade, deployed South African, Tanzanian, and Malawian troops to confront M23 militarily. It was South African troops, supported by Rooivalk attack helicopters, that played a decisive role in crushing M23 at Tshanzu Hill in November 2013. This battle marked one of the most significant military victories in the history of UN peacekeeping, demonstrating South Africa’s ability to execute effective, disciplined military operations to restore peace.
By November 5 2013, the armed forces of the DRC, with support from our soldiers, had captured M23’s last strongholds in the villages of Tshanzu and Runyoni. This defeat forced M23 to announce an end to its 20-month rebellion, raising hopes for peace in the region.
It is this legacy of military excellence, strategic co-ordination, and unapologetic commitment to peacekeeping and peace enforcement that we must invoke today in honouring the soldiers we have lost. Their sacrifice should be a rallying call for us to restore the military organisation and effectiveness that led to the defeat of M23 in 2013.
South Africa has never been neutral in the fight against instability in Africa. We have consistently placed ourselves at the forefront of peacekeeping and enforcement missions, understanding that security in Africa is interconnected. Whether in Lesotho (1998), Burundi (2001), the Central African Republic (2013) or the DRC, we have demonstrated that peace is not a passive process — it must be actively defended.
Our engagement in the DRC is not an act of foreign intervention or aggression but a response to a collective regional security imperative. Instability in the DRC threatens the security of its neighbours, fuelling armed conflicts, economic stagnation, and mass displacement. As a regional power, South Africa cannot look away.
We must push for stronger regional co-ordination under the Sadc mutual defence pact to ensure that instability in the DRC is met with a collective, decisive response. Also, our troops must be provided with the best equipment, intelligence and strategic support to ensure that they are never outmatched on the battlefield.
The success of the Rooivalk helicopters in 2013 proved that well co-ordinated air-ground operations can turn the tide in conflict zones. We must reintroduce and reinforce air capabilities in the DRC.
But military victories are not just about firepower; they are about command, strategy and leadership. We must ensure that our troops operate under strong and decisive leadership.
The loss of 14 soldiers is a painful moment, but it must also be a defining one.
South Africa’s commitment to peace in Africa is a duty borne out of history, a necessity for regional security and a responsibility that we cannot abandon. To truly honour our fallen, we must complete the mission they gave their lives for.
• Mashimbye, now South Africa’s ambassador to Egypt, formerly served as ambassador to the DRC
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