The Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, has declared that South African troops are ready to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to fight against the M23 rebel group, if called upon.
The general made this statement while addressing South African soldiers who recently returned from Goma and Mubambiro. These troops had been stationed there since January of this year, when they were defeated in battle and M23 seized control of Goma.
Gen. Maphwanya told the soldiers under his command that even the M23 had admitted that SANDF had delivered painful blows to them during the Goma battles. He emphasized that they are ready to repeat their actions if called upon to fight again.
He said:
“The story is told best by those who were on the other side of the battlefield, because they know it well. They heard it, and they confirmed it themselves. So if we are called again to do it—we will do it. And I will go with you.”
The battle that saw M23 take Goma left South Africa with 14 soldiers dead. Following this, South African troops, along with those from Malawi and Tanzania who were deployed as part of a joint force, did not engage in further combat before returning home.
Gen. Maphwanya told SANDF soldiers that although they returned, he considers them victors—because after the fighting stopped, the opposing side and the DRC government were forced to sit at the negotiation table.
