SANDF says troops returning from DRC to undergo demobilisation process
JOHANNESBURG - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said troops returning from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would undergo a four-day demobilisation process to help them reintegrate into society.
The first group of 249 personnel landed at Waterkloof Air Force Base outside Pretoria on Friday, following a six-hour delay.
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They had been deployed to Goma since December 2023 as part of a regional peacekeeping mission in the conflict-ridden North Kivu province.
As the troops disembarked from the Tanzanian aircraft, they broke out in song, a moment of emotion and relief following months of battle with M23 rebels in eastern DRC.
Their return follows a ceasefire agreement reached between the M23 and the DRC military during a summit in Tanzania in March.
Fourteen South African soldiers lost their lives during the deployment.
"The South African National Defence Force troops that have just come back from southeast DRC. They are in a very, very good, high spirit," said SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala.
"We have seen them on visual search, having enjoyment and singing songs of enjoyment. It's an atmosphere of jubilation, if I can put it that way, in a nutshell."
The remainder of the deployed army personnel are expected to return home by the end of June.
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