Withdrawal of SANDF troops from DRC a work in progress: Motshekga

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga says the process to withdraw the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a work in progress.

Motshekga says despite the delay in the operation, significant work was still being done.

Motshekga says cooperation between South Africa and member states is still going well.

Defence and Military Veterans minister, Angie Motshekga says the withdrawal process of SANDF troops from the DRC is still underway and has experienced some delays. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Vo9Z1D9Edu

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The minister emphasises that they are managing what would have been seen as tensions between South Africa and Rwanda.

“We are working through the AU, working through the UN, we are working through SADC. So really, it’s not so much of the South African issue, it’s a regional, it’s a continental but it’s also an international matter. And that’s why I think the movement is, except for the difficult driving terrain, everything else up to now in terms of safety, in terms of relations is going well,” says Motshekga.

[WATCH] As the SANDF prepares to withdraw troops from the Eastern DRC, reporter Khayelihle Khumalo speaks to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, who says the withdrawal process is still a work in progress. pic.twitter.com/1CikvRJM9d

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 5, 2025