First group of SANDF troops to return from DRC on Friday

SANDF soldiers

2 minutes

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has announced that its first group of soldiers who were deployed in the Eastern DRC will finally come home this coming Friday.

The SANDF has been part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in Congo to restore peace and security in the Eastern parts of Congo,

But M23 and other groupings have since captured swathes of land in Congo.

The SADC leaders decided to withdraw the mission to give peace talks a chance.

BREAKING NEWS | The first group of SANDF troops will return from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday. pic.twitter.com/DsyJDBfKLN

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 11, 2025

The withdrawal of the SADC mission in the DRC has been conducted in a structured manner to ensure the safe return of South African troops and their military equipment.

It’s been a delicate process as they travelled with their armaments from Goma and Sake in Eastern DRC via Rwanda to Tanzania in Chato, which has been designated as the assembly location.

They are expected to arrive at Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein and the estimated time of arrive is 12h00 midday on Friday.

The troops will be welcomed by the Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga alongside the members of the Military Command Council.

The SANDF says the return of the first group of troops who were deployed to the eastern DRC as part of the SADC Mission in the DRC will take place on Friday in the Free State. #sabcnews #SANDF

— Khayelihle Rafiq Khumalo-James (@KhayaJames) June 11, 2025