At least two South African military aircraft landed at Bujumbura International Airport in Burundi last Wednesday, carrying soldiers reportedly deployed to reinforce the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This development comes amid escalating violence in the region, particularly following the capture of North Kivu’s capital, Goma, by the M23 rebel group.
The deployment underscores the precarious security situation in the eastern DRC, where South African troops have suffered significant losses. At least 14 South African soldiers were reportedly killed in recent clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), their allies, and M23 rebels. Goma, the strategic city in North Kivu, fell to M23 forces on January 27, with the group subsequently installing a parallel administration.
Discreet Troop Movements in Burundi
Police sources at Bujumbura airport confirmed the landing of the two South African military aircraft, stating that the soldiers were swiftly moved to Gakumbu camp, located within close proximity to the airport.
“They headed straight for the Gakumbu camp. Many people thought they were cargo planes, but they were full of soldiers,” an airport security officer told SOS Médias Burundi.
A Burundian army officer further disclosed that the South African troops were expected to take the Gatumba-Uvira route to enter South Kivu and reinforce SADC positions. However, officials stationed at the Gatumba-Kavimvira border, between Burundi’s Bujumbura province and South Kivu in the DRC, reported that no South African soldiers had been seen crossing through the checkpoint.
“No one knows the destination of these soldiers, much less the route they took,” an officer from the Burundi National Defense Force (FDNB) stationed at Gakumbu camp stated. Another officer from the Burundi National Police (PNB) suggested that details regarding their mission and movement remain highly classified.
Domestic Backlash in South Africa
Back home, South Africa’s involvement in the DRC conflict is facing intense criticism. During a parliamentary session on Monday, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), condemned the government’s decision to deploy troops to the DRC.
“The reckless deployment of South African troops in the DRC … had been presented to us as a peacekeeping effort. However, the truth is that our soldiers are not there to maintain peace,” Malema asserted.
This latest military development raises further questions about the role of SADC forces in the DRC conflict and the extent of South Africa’s engagement in what has become an increasingly complex regional crisis. While the South African government has yet to make an official statement regarding the mission of the troops that landed in Burundi, the secrecy surrounding their movements continues to fuel speculation and controversy.
