The underlying reasons for Sadc deployment: Analyzing the killing of South African troops in DR Congo

South African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have suffered their first fatalities since their recent deployment to quell a rebellion. Two soldiers were killed and three were injured when a mortar bomb landed in their base on Wednesday. This attack has led to opposition politicians in South Africa calling for the withdrawal of troops from DR Congo. The troops are part of a regional force that is assisting DR Congo's military in dealing with a series of armed groups. The most prominent group is the M23, which has taken positions on major routes leading into Goma, the main city in eastern DR Congo. The M23's advance has resulted in tens of thousands of people being displaced, adding to the millions already affected by conflicts in the region. However, the South African army has not directly linked Wednesday's attack to the M23. In a statement, they stated that the details of the incident are still unclear. South Africa began deploying troops to eastern DR Congo in December as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc. They have taken over from the Kenyan-led East African Force (EAF), which left in December after being welcomed by President Félix Tshisekedi. Tshisekedi, who was re-elected for a second term in December, promised to tackle the insecurity in the east of the country. SADC has shown solidarity with DR Congo, warning that an attack against one of its members would result in immediate collective action. Tshisekedi wants a partner who will confront the rebels head-on, which was the reason for booting out the EAF and ordering the UN force to leave by the end of 2024. South Africa, as the regional superpower, will play a central role in the force. The M23, accused of being backed by Rwanda, has gained strength and better equipment since their previous defeat by SADC troops operating under the UN Intervention Brigade years ago. Rwanda denies backing the rebel group. The exact strength of the M23 is unknown, but South Africa has a strong and well-equipped army. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 2,900 troops will be deployed, although it is unclear how many are already in DR Congo. Opposition parties in South Africa are not convinced about the effectiveness of the deployment and have called for the withdrawal of troops. They argue that the government was warned about the irresponsible and unacceptable nature of the deployment. They also believe that the troops are not properly trained and lack necessary airpower and transport elements to operate effectively in eastern DR Congo's complex and hostile terrain. However, President Ramaphosa defended the deployment, stating that South Africa has always participated in peacekeeping missions worldwide.