Calls for South Africa to withdraw its troops from eastern DR Congo continue to grow, with one military and defence expert saying withdrawing is now the only option for South Africa because it can no longer influence the military situation. ALSO READ: Military chiefs say mandate of SADC forces in DR Congo untenable Darren Olivier, a director at African Defence Review with nearly two decades’ experience in conflict analysis, believes that South Africa should withdraw from DR Congo, “simply because it no longer has good options left to militarily influence the situation.” ALSO READ: South African MPs call for inquiry into troop deployment to DR Congo Olivier said this during his InMyCrosshairs X Space broadcast while responding to a call by South African opposition politician Carl Niehaus of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) party. The EFF also called for an immediate withdrawal of South African troops from DR Congo, after 14 of them were killed in January. South Africa leads a military mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eastern DR Congo. Malawi and Tanzania also have troops in the SADC mission known as SAMIDRC. ALSO READ: SADC mission in DR Congo should withdraw, says South African defence analyst But Olivier said if South Africa withdraws unilaterally, without a SADC decision, “that also harms credibility and will bring South African economic and political costs long term.” An estimated 1,000 South African troops are surrounded by AFC/M23 rebels in Goma and Sake. Although not officially prisoners of war, their movements and supplies are controlled by the rebels who now control swathes of territory in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. “South Africa is not in a strong position, but nor is it entirely without diplomatic options,” Olivier said. “Also, it’s not alone: The other SAMIDRC contributors, Malawi and Tanzania, still have their troops there alongside those from the SANDF and in the same position.” ALSO READ: Rwanda offers passage for bodies of South African soldiers “Withdrawing ‘immediately’ and unilaterally in a way that leaves all the equipment behind would be as catastrophic again as allowing the [other] troops to be surrounded in the first place, would be a betrayal of the rest of SAMIDRC, and would destroy South Africa’s credibility. “However, this is not a situation that can last stably, forever, especially given the inconsistent availability of food and other vital supplies. It’s a bit of a standoff, but one with a time limit as conditions get ever less habitable for the troops in their surrounded bases,” he said. “South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, and the rest of SADC should be more openly insisting on the urgent repatriation of the wounded and proper treatment for the soldiers who remain in [DR Congo], including a regular and adequate supply of food and water.” The evacuation of up to 189 injured South African soldiers including five seriously wounded began on Monday, according to reports. Two pregnant SANDF soldiers were also evacuated. ALSO READ: Julius Malema wants SA troops out of DR Congo Some South African opposition politicians and members of the National Assembly have questioned the deployment of troops to conflict-ridden DR Congo, saying they were sent to protect mineral concessions controlled by people with links to South African businesspeople. The EFF's Niehaus said that South African troops “have been sent there to die for the sake of other people’s wealth.” While South Africa should be committed to peace in the whole of Africa and support the Silencing of the Guns goal of the African Union, “we do not support the deployment of our troops without the necessary resources,” Niehaus said. South Africa leads the SAMIDRC mission in eastern DR Congo which was deployed there to bolster the Congolese army coalition that also boasts thousands of Burundian troops, and militias such as FDLR – a DR Congo-based terrorist militia founded by remnants of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda – and a loose alliance of local militia groups called Wazalendo. However, the vast coalition has failed to stop the advance of AFC/M23 rebels who have seized swathes of territory including Goma, North Kivu’s provincial capital, and Bukavu, South Kivu’s provincial capital.
