The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) mourns the tragic loss of nine South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during clashes with the M23 rebels. Our deepest condolences go out to their families, comrades, and loved ones. Their untimely deaths are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of South Africa’s ill-conceived foreign military interventions.
While we grieve for our soldiers, we cannot ignore the immeasurable price paid by the ordinary people of the DRC, whose lives have been devastated by decades of instability, violence, and exploitation. This ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of millions, making it one of the deadliest wars since World War II. Women, children, and men across the DRC continue to suffer displacement, poverty, and violence, caught in a conflict that originates in a tragic failure of governance and unity following the country’s liberation.
A Legacy of Division and Exploitation
The roots of this conflict can be traced back to the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, a visionary leader whose dream of a unified and independent Congo was thwarted by tribalist divisions and foreign meddling. The inability to form a cohesive national government after independence not only cost the DRC its first prime minister but also paved the way for decades of chaos, corruption, and exploitation under leaders like Mobutu Sese Seko. Even after Mobutu’s overthrow, the dream of a united and stable Congo remained unfulfilled, leaving a vacuum that allowed regional and ethnic tensions to fester.
The massacre of the Tutsi population during the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and the subsequent influx of Hutu fighters into the DRC further escalated the instability. What began as a regional humanitarian crisis evolved into a complex and deadly conflict involving multiple rebel groups, foreign interests, and resource exploitation. The international community, including the African Union (AU), has failed to address the root causes of this instability, allowing it to persist for decades.
This is the war that the SANDF is ill-advised to join. Instead of pursuing militaristic solutions, South Africa must advocate for a return to the principles of peace and diplomacy embodied in the AU and the legacy of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
The Costs of War, the Failure of Leadership, and Lack of Exit Strategies
The DRC conflict has been a war waged on the backs of its people, with millions dead and many more displaced. The instability has left communities vulnerable to human rights abuses, mass displacement, and exploitation by both local militias and foreign corporations. Rebel groups like the M23, supported by regional actors such as Rwanda under Paul Kagame and Uganda under Yoweri Museveni, have only deepened the suffering of ordinary Congolese people.
The South African government’s involvement in these conflicts is further compounded by its glaring lack of an exit strategy for its military deployments. Whether in the DRC, Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region, or other African conflict zones, the government has no clear plan for how or when its military commitments will conclude. This absence of a defined exit strategy creates a dangerous cycle of open-ended military engagements, leaving South Africa entangled in foreign conflicts indefinitely and further exposing our soldiers to danger without clear objectives or timelines.
Additionally, in Mozambique, the SANDF’s deployment to protect the vast gas fields in Cabo Delgado only serves the interests of oil conglomerates with foreign ties, such as TotalEnergies, instead of addressing the root causes of local grievances or prioritizing the welfare of ordinary Mozambicans.
SAFTU’s Call to Action
SAFTU reiterates its condemnation of the South African government’s decision to involve the SANDF in the DRC and other conflicts without a coherent strategy or clear objectives. We call for:
1. A Return to Peacebuilding Diplomacy
South Africa must honor the work of Mandela and Mbeki, who championed peace in the Great Lakes region through dialogue and negotiation. The government must push for African Union (AU) resolutions and peace summits that address the root causes of instability in the DRC. This is the only path to lasting peace.
2. An End to Militarization Without Strategy
The SANDF is ill-equipped and under-resourced to sustain foreign wars. Sending our soldiers into these conflicts not only jeopardizes their lives but also diverts resources away from addressing urgent domestic issues. Moreover, the lack of exit strategies exposes the government’s inability to chart a clear, long-term approach to its foreign engagements.
3. Accountability for Exploitation
The South African government must stop protecting the interests of mining barons and multinational corporations profiting from the DRC’s natural resources. Likewise, the SANDF’s presence in Cabo Delgado must end, as it only serves the economic interests of oil conglomerates like TotalEnergies, which are complicit in the displacement and suffering of local communities.
4. Prevention of Regional Escalation
The ongoing militarization of the Great Lakes region risks plunging the entire continent into a bloody conflict. South Africa must work to de-escalate tensions between regional actors such as Rwanda and Uganda and advocate for African unity in resolving this crisis.
Conclusion
The history of the DRC is a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of division, foreign interference, and unchecked exploitation. South Africa must not contribute to this legacy of suffering but instead champion a future of peace, solidarity, and justice.
We honor the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers and stand with the people of the DRC and Mozambique in their struggle for a unified and peaceful future. Their pain and suffering must not be ignored. It is time for South Africa to redefine its role on the continent, away from militarism and toward true pan-African solidarity, with clear objectives and an exit strategy for all foreign engagements.
