South Africa has announced plans to dispatch a force of 2,900 soldiers to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assist in combating armed rebel groups in the eastern region.
In a statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa disclosed that the deployment is projected to cost R2 billion ($105m; £83m) and is scheduled to continue until December of this year.
Additionally, Malawi and Tanzania will contribute troops to the mission, replacing the East African regional force that withdrew from the DRC last December due to perceived ineffectiveness, as deemed by the Congolese government.
The deployment forms part of South Africa’s commitment to the Southern African Development Community’s Eastern Congo Mission, sanctioned in May of the previous year to address the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in violence in the east, marked by deadly assaults perpetrated by the M23 rebel group, prompting thousands of individuals to flee their homes in search of refuge in the city of Goma.
The M23 rebels have made significant advances, nearing the city situated in North Kivu province, heightening concerns over the security situation in the area.