Johannesburg, Monday, 3 February 2025 – In a heartfelt message to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the tragic loss of 14 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), emphasizing the need for collective leadership to secure lasting peace in the region.
The soldiers were killed in an attack that violated a ceasefire agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, which had been brokered by President João Lourenço of Angola. South African forces have been stationed in the region as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission and the UN’s peacekeeping efforts.
As a country, we have a duty of support towards the nations of Africa whose solidarity and material support helped secure our liberation. South Africa will not let up in its support to the people of the DRC so that they may have the peace and security they rightfully deserve.… pic.twitter.com/0239ObEybK
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 3, 2025
Ramaphosa honored the fallen soldiers, describing them as “heroes” who gave their lives in defense of the innocent victims of one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts. Since 1996, the conflict in the DRC has claimed millions of lives, with widespread human rights abuses and displacement affecting over seven million Congolese citizens.
“We pay tribute to our fallen soldiers, who are not only South African but African heroes,” Ramaphosa said, reinforcing South Africa’s longstanding commitment to peacekeeping efforts across the continent.
The President reaffirmed South Africa’s dedication to peacebuilding, recalling the nation’s pivotal role in past peace missions, from Burundi to South Sudan, and most recently in Mozambique’s fight against extremism in Cabo Delgado. Despite recent criticisms questioning South Africa’s involvement in the DRC, Ramaphosa emphasized that African conflicts impact all nations, underscoring the collective responsibility for regional stability.
The President called for an immediate ceasefire and political negotiations involving all parties to the conflict, stressing that diplomacy is the key to lasting peace. He also endorsed the UN Security Council’s call for the M23 rebel group to reverse territorial gains and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the DRC.
Ramaphosa concluded with a powerful reaffirmation of South Africa’s commitment to the people of the DRC: “We will not relent in our support for the people of the DRC, so they may live in the peace and security they deserve.”
