Troops in Trouble: Why Are Our Soldiers Dying in the DRC?

“Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana, philosopher

Many incidences in South Africa’s recent past bring this wise quote to mind, but perhaps none so starkly as the tragic deaths of 14 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who were killed in the latest action against M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

After protracted negotiations, their bodies were repatriated to South Africa, and I know I’m not the only one who’s found the news footage of their funerals haunting to watch.
The tragic loss of life has spawned anger and outrage from grieving relatives, the South Africa public in general, and SANDF general, Rudzani Maphwanya, among many others. Many pointed questions are now being asked, not least of which is why did South Africa have troops in the DRC in the first place?

It’s a well-known fact that, especially given the apparently unchecked influx of people across our northern and eastern borders, we don’t seem able to defend our own country against unwelcome visitors. Why then are we spending resources we clearly don’t have on helping far away countries defend theirs?

Click on the link to read the full article - https://lnkd.in/dS-C_WX4