AfriForum calls for immediate investigation into the deaths of South African soldiers in the DRC

In a letter to Angie Motshekga, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, AfriForum demands an immediate and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the M23 rebel attack on a military base at Sake in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in which nine South African soldiers were killed.

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are deployed in the DRC as part of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) mission. The attack on the military base at Sake began on Thursday morning. The base is about 25 km from Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province in the DRC, and during the attack soldiers offered strong resistance to try to prevent the rebel forces from advancing toward Goma. However, by yesterday, rebels announced that they had since taken over the city.

In the letter addressed to Motshekga, AfriForum questions the adequacy of the mission’s planning, operational support and risk mitigation strategies provided to South African troops. Furthermore, AfriForum highlights the need for clarity regarding the coordination between the SANDF, the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (Monusco) and other SADC forces and insists on the introduction of measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“The fallen soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace and stability. Their deaths must not be in vain,” says Jacques Broodryk, Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety at AfriForum. “The government owes it to the families, fellow soldiers and all South Africans to ensure accountability, transparency and the implementation of better safeguards to protect our soldiers in the field.”

In its letter, AfriForum demands answers to the following critical questions:

• Were the risks associated with the operation adequately assessed and mitigated?
• What was the level of logistical, tactical and medical support provided to SANDF troops during the mission?
• What was the level of coordination and communication between SANDF and other forces involved in the mission?
• What measures are being taken to support the families of the fallen soldiers?
• What measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?

AfriForum further demands that the findings of the investigation be made public to reassure citizens that the government is taking every necessary step to safeguard the country’s armed forces and uphold transparency.

Cover photo credit: Flickr, GovernmentZA