The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has refuted reports suggesting that its troops are stranded in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to transportation issues. The SANDF clarified that the withdrawal of its forces from the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) is proceeding as planned.
The SAMIDRC mission concluded on March 13, 2025, following a special summit of SADC heads of state. The withdrawal plan involves relocating troops to Chato, Tanzania, approximately 500 kilometers from Goma and Sake, as part of the first phase.
Recent reports, including one from City Press, indicated that promised transportation for the soldiers was unavailable due to funding shortages, leading to delays and logistical challenges. Some soldiers reportedly had to travel 250 kilometers to an alternative airstrip, as Goma’s airport remains non-operational.
A senior SANDF officer expressed concerns about diminishing supplies and morale among troops, citing that soldiers are receiving only one meal per day and relying on limited resources. There are fears of potential unrest if conditions do not improve.
However, defenceWeb reported that the current strategy prioritizes the repatriation of equipment, with nearly half of SANDF’s assets already withdrawn from eastern DRC. Personnel evacuation is expected to commence in the coming week, and there are no indications of financial constraints affecting the process.
SANDF’s communication head, Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Prince Tshabalala, assured the public that all deployed members are safe, adequately supplied, and continue to receive daily meals. He emphasized that no personnel are stranded or unsupported.
There has been no official statement from other contributing countries, Malawi and Tanzania, regarding their troop withdrawals. The last update from SADC on SAMIDRC was issued on March 31, 2025, following a security meeting on the DRC.
South African military equipment is scheduled to be transported back via ship from Dar es Salaam, located about 1,200 kilometers from Chato. As of now, there is no confirmed timeline for the return of SANDF personnel to their base in De Brug, near Bloemfontein.
