'Bring back our soldiers’, Malema tells Ramaphosa
EFF Leader Julius Malema has once reiterated his call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw South African troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Malema made the call during the EFF’s 3rd National People’s Assembly plenum in Bela Bela on Friday, where he addressed the party's newly elected leadership.
Earlier this week, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that South Africa will not withdraw its soldiers from the conflict-ridden DRC.
This is despite mounting calls for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to pull out following the deaths of 13 soldiers.
On Tuesday morning, the SANDF announced the deaths of four more soldiers, bringing the total number of fatalities to 13 after nine troops were killed last week in clashes with the M23 rebel group.
Lamola explained that South Africa is not acting alone but is part of a broader mission involving the United Nations, the African Union, and the Southern African Development Community.
However, Malema accused the government of using South African soldiers as "glorified bodyguards" for mining interests in the DRC, falsely presenting the mission as a pursuit of peace and democracy.
"This conflict is driven, in part, by ethnic divisions in the region," Malema said.
"This is where Rwanda's influence in the DRC becomes clear. Ethnic groups that fled Rwanda during the genocide and settled in the eastern Congo are being used to justify Rwanda's support for the M23 rebellion against the DRC government—all while Rwanda acts as a proxy for Western interests in the region."
He also commented on a war of words between Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, during which Kagame accused Ramaphosa of “distorting facts” about the ongoing conflict.
"The conflict in the DRC does not require a leader eager to be a hero at the expense of the lives of South African soldiers," Malema said.
"Lies have short legs, Mr President. We demand clarity because you have sent our soldiers to their deaths while antagonising regional forces, knowing full well South Africa is not prepared for war.
"We must ask ourselves: What is the true role of the South African National Defence Force in the Congo? In whose interest is this mission being carried out? Are we truly pursuing peace for the continent, or are we protecting the mining interests of global capitalists?"
Meanwhile, leaders and ministers from the southern African regional group SADC gathered in the Zimbabwe capital Friday ahead of a summit on the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
Ramaphosa was due in Harare but the leader of Malawi will be represented by his foreign minister, their offices said.
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