By Akani Nkuna
The co-chairpersons of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Malusi Gigaba and Phiroane Phala, have welcomed the decision to terminate the Southern African Development Community’s mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They emphasised that this move should not be seen as an abandonment of DRC, but rather as a strategic shift toward diplomatic solutions aimed at fostering lasting peace and stability in the region.
The committee has called for sustained diplomatic interventions to ensure that progress made in the DRC is not lost and that efforts to promote security and development continue.
“The recommitment by SADC Heads of States to support other interventions aimed at bringing lasting peace and security in the DRC reaffirms our belief that dialogue should be placed at the centre of efforts to resolve the DRC conflict,” said Gigaba.
“Achieving peace and stability in the eastern DRC is a precondition for economic growth and development of not only the DRC, but for the region.”
The chairpersons are pleased that SADC will collaborate with East African Community to unify the Luanda and Nairobi processes for DRC peace efforts.
Additionally, the committee said that it acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the phased withdrawal of SANDF troops from SAMIDRC. It has urged for an urgent meeting with Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to clarify the details of the withdrawal plan.
“We will schedule an urgent meeting to get the envisioned phased plan of action to implement the decision by Heads of State.
“Also, this meeting must address the implication of the withdrawal in the context of the soldiers that will remain part of the MONUSCO and the assessment of the security risk thereof,” Phala said.
The planned meeting will also outline how the SANDF intends to safely retrieve its Prime Mission Equipment, considering the volatile and unpredictable situation in eastern DRC.
INSIDE POLITICS
