Following the deaths of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members during combat in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Cyril Ramaphosa called on all parties in the conflict to embrace diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution, including honouring the Luanda Process agreements.

He said governments must silence the guns in Africa for inclusive development and prosperity.

Ramaphosa explained that the fighting was the result of an escalation by the rebel group M23 and Rwanda Defence Force militia engaging the Armed Forces of the DRC and attacking peacekeepers from the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

He stated that South Africa’s military presence in the eastern DRC was not a declaration of war against any country or State.

“The members of the SANDF that are in the DRC are part of both Southern African Development Community (SADC) and United Nations efforts to bring peace and protect thousands of lives that are constantly threatened by the conflict in the DRC,” he explained.

He added that the presence of the SAMIDRC forces demonstrated a commitment by SADC member States to support the DRC in peace efforts.

He assured that Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya and SAMIDRC Force Commander Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu were working to ensure that the SAMIDRC forces remained well equipped and sufficiently supported during this critical mission.

He said government welcomed the position that was recently adopted by the United Nations Security Council during its special sitting on the situation in the DRC, which called for an immediate end to hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the exit of external forces from the DRC and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.

He pointed out that the DRC’s territorial integrity must be respected in accordance with the United Nations Charter on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States.

Speaking about the state of the country’s troops and the battle conditions, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to rally behind the soldiers, who he said had dedicated their lives to bringing peace on the continent.

Meanwhile, he indicated that the process to repatriate the remains of the deceased soldiers was underway, and that all necessary support was being provided to the families of the families of the injured.