The Southern African Development Community intervention force in the mission in the DRC is outgunned and outmanned.

Following the tragic deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ANC demands government accountability and clarity on the circumstances surrounding their loss.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame has warned South Africa that although Rwanda prefers peace, it will, without doubt, respond to any “confrontation” from any force that threatens its sovereignty or defence forces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa remains in direct contact with the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of Rwanda, the perceived backer of the M23 rebels

Ramaphosa welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s recent position on the situation in the DRC, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the withdrawal of external forces from the DRC, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.

Kagame's comments clearly suggested that he wants South Africa to back off from DR Congo, where its military involvement dates back to the late 1990s. It first joined the UN's peacekeeping mission, Monusco, following the end of the racist system of apartheid in 1994.

"Things are relatively quiet at the moment, and our soldiers are also in a safe place," Ramaphosa said during a press briefing in Pretoria. His statement comes a day after four members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were killed in fighting against the rebel group in eastern DRC.