The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has denied reports from South Africa claiming it abandoned its soldiers who were returning from a peacekeeping mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), called SAMIDRC.
SADC said the claims are “baseless and misleading.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, SADC was responding to reports from two South African media outlets that said some soldiers sent to Congo were “abandoned” and had no buses to return to Tanzania.
SADC said these reports were published without confirmation from the right authorities and do not reflect the truth about how SADC operates.
The statement explained: “These claims are unfounded and misleading. They do not represent the reality. The deployment and withdrawal of soldiers under SAMIDRC follow agreements signed by all involved parties.”
Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu of the South African National Defence Force, who also leads SAMIDRC, is said to be managing the withdrawal process to ensure it is safe, well-planned, and in line with international laws.
SADC emphasized that its main concern is still to support peace, security, and stability in the region.
The organization also said it continues to support diplomatic and political efforts to find a lasting solution to the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo.
This statement comes amid tension and complaints among South African soldiers and their leadership.
The South African National Defence Union (Sandu), which represents over 19,000 soldiers, recently reported many complaints about unpaid salaries for troops in DRC and serious food shortages – with some soldiers reportedly eating only once a day.
Sandu’s Secretary General, Pikkie Greeff, said the complaints are valid and confirmed by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and that investigations are underway.
He added that there is hope the problems will be resolved legally, even as political parties like the EFF demanded quick action and the Democratic Alliance called for transparency on soldiers’ pay.
Despite these issues, SADC says that the deployment and return of its troops follow proper plans, cooperation, and safety measures.
However, the situation shows that coordination between military leadership and soldier unions needs to improve – especially during peacekeeping missions abroad.
