A third contingent of South African peacekeepers deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of a regional stabilization mission returned home Monday, landing at Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein.
The arrival of nearly 220 troops marks the ongoing drawdown of South Africa’s involvement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in eastern DRC. The latest return follows the arrival of 249 soldiers on Friday (13 June) and 257 on Sunday (15 June), with a fourth group expected on Tuesday.
The 16-member SADC bloc launched the mission in May 2023 to help stabilize the eastern DRC, a region ravaged by decades of armed conflict. However, the bloc terminated the mission’s mandate in March 2025 and began a phased withdrawal of troops and equipment in April.
The decision comes amid deteriorating security conditions in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group has seized large swathes of territory since December 2024, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu in North and South Kivu provinces. Fighting has escalated despite ongoing mediation efforts led by the emir of Qatar.
According to South African defence officials, 14 South African soldiers were among 20 peacekeepers killed in clashes with M23 rebels since the beginning of the deployment. The Congolese government blames neighbouring Rwanda for backing the rebels, a claim Rwanda continues to deny.
The humanitarian toll is mounting. According to DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, more than 7,000 people have been killed this year due to the violence. The United Nations estimates that more than 7.8 million people have been displaced across the country as a result of the protracted conflict.
With the SADC mission winding down and the security situation still volatile, attention is now turning to regional and international diplomatic efforts to prevent further deterioration and to support a political resolution to the crisis.
Israel’s military has announced that SEPAH General Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s “Khatam al-Anbiya” central command headquarters, was killed in an airstrike on Tehran.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to visit China this week to strengthen trade ties and attract tourists and students, while also addressing complex security and defence issues.
A major wave of Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv early Tuesday, killing 14 people, including a U.S. citizen, and injuring dozens as the capital faced one of the largest attacks since the war began.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the G7 summit in Canada, marking his first major diplomatic engagement.
Israel’s military has announced that SEPAH General Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s “Khatam al-Anbiya” central command headquarters, was killed in an airstrike on Tehran.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to visit China this week to strengthen trade ties and attract tourists and students, while also addressing complex security and defence issues.
Central banks around the world expect their gold holdings as a proportion of their reserves to increase over the next five years while expecting their dollar reserves to be lower, a survey by the World Gold Council (WGC) showed.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Pyongyang "on special instructions" from President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, he is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Russian Security Council.
A major wave of Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv early Tuesday, killing 14 people, including a U.S. citizen, and injuring dozens as the capital faced one of the largest attacks since the war began.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
Israel’s military has announced that SEPAH General Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s “Khatam al-Anbiya” central command headquarters, was killed in an airstrike on Tehran.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to visit China this week to strengthen trade ties and attract tourists and students, while also addressing complex security and defence issues.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Pyongyang "on special instructions" from President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, he is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Russian Security Council.
A major wave of Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv early Tuesday, killing 14 people, including a U.S. citizen, and injuring dozens as the capital faced one of the largest attacks since the war began.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel’s military has announced that SEPAH General Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s “Khatam al-Anbiya” central command headquarters, was killed in an airstrike on Tehran.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to visit China this week to strengthen trade ties and attract tourists and students, while also addressing complex security and defence issues.
Central banks around the world expect their gold holdings as a proportion of their reserves to increase over the next five years while expecting their dollar reserves to be lower, a survey by the World Gold Council (WGC) showed.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Pyongyang "on special instructions" from President Vladimir Putin. During his visit, he is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Russian Security Council.
A major wave of Russian drones and missiles struck Kyiv early Tuesday, killing 14 people, including a U.S. citizen, and injuring dozens as the capital faced one of the largest attacks since the war began.
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