In a report dated in Gaborone, Botswana, on April 5, 2024, SAMIDRC denied recent online media articles and strongly condemned misinformation about its military activities in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
SAMIDRC explained that “the situation on the ground is normal, and they are continuing with their planned operational activities” and added that the reports on the progress of the mission and the safety of the troops will be systematically communicated through official channels.
The document also stated that the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) troops deployed in the DRC are acting under the mandate of the Community, which approved a regional intervention in May 2023 to address instability and deterioration security in the country.
The regional force, consisting of members from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, works with the DRC Armed Forces to fight armed groups operating in the eastern region of that nation and is committed to fulfilling its mandate under the principle of self-defense and collective action set out in the SADC Mutual Defense Pact 2003.
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