Broke SANDF extension in DRC 'unbudgeted for' - defence expert

Defense Analyst Dean Wingrin joins Africa Melane to break down President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to extend the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

SANDF troops deployed in the DRC will remain.

In two letters to Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa explained his decision to extend the deployment to MONUSCO and SADC missions.

“Members of the SANDF employed for the MONUSCO mission will stay until December 20 2024,” said Ramaphosa.

Soldiers who serve under the SADC mission will remain until March 2025.

"South Africa's been part of this mission since 1999. This has been going on for 25 years now and at its maximum the UN had about 15 000 troops. South Africa's numbers have fluctuated around 1200 troops."

- Dean Wingrin, Defence analyst

When South Africa initially arrived in the DRC, explains Wingrin, it was as part of peacekeeping efforts.

Then in 2013, the UN established a 'Force Intervention Bridge' (FIB).

"South Africa was quite impressive in that initial state of operation. We had the Oryx transport helicopter."

- Dean Wingrin, Defence analyst

What made an impression on the rebels was the Denel Rooivalk attack helicopter, says Wingrin.

"After just one or two attacks from the Rooivalk helicopter against the rebel group, the group decided it may be better to withdraw and actually went quiet for a number of years."

- Dean Wingrin, Defence analyst

Despite that, the region remained volatile.

The DRC government has asked the UN to withdraw which it has agreed to do by 20 December.

"South Africa will be withdrawing its MONUSCO contingent in the next month or so. But, concurrently with that ,SADC, of which South Africa is a part, has just started a new mission in the DRC..."

- Dean Wingrin, Defence analyst

One of the initial criticisms of the SANDF joining the SADC mission in the DRC was that troops were being sent into a combat situation for which they were not adequately equipped.

The estimated cost of the mission is around R2 billion.

"South Africa's defence budget has been dwindling for a long time now and President Ramaphosa has now authorised 2900 troops to continue in the DRC at a cost of R2.4 billion."

- Dean Wingrin, Defence analyst

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Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.