Heartfelt Thank You South Africa by Democratic Republic of Congo

 Democratic Republic of Congo

Accountability has its requirements and DRC will not fail to comply with such a compulsory societal recommendation in spicing up life when the togetherness does prevail. Such a stance does embellish relations between States. Pan-Africanism at the forefront of agreements harmonization is an aspirational virtue entrenched in African traditions which are hugely based on solidarity. It is very African to say that times of hardship are a moment to weigh up the existence and effectiveness of one’s best friends. Yes! The barbaric and murderous invasion of Goma in North Kivu, on January 27, 2024 by the Rwandan army in support of  M23/AFC, has a particular description of African brotherhood for DRC. SANDF (South Africa National Defense Forces) shed their blood to safeguard territorial integrity alongside FARDC and Wazalendo reservists. SAMI-DRC is a group of SADC coalition armies including Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa. Its mission is carried out under an African Union mandate in support of MONUSCO in the Eastern part of DRC, facing illegal occupation of part of its territory.

DRC reserves its sincere gratitude to the Republic of South Africa, which, during the carnage in Goma, lost 14 of their men in uniform and military equipment for the Congolese cause. A total of 19 SAMI-DRC soldiers were mowed down that day. Rwanda flouted the principles of a valiant continental organization of which it is a part by causing carnage among civilians. Not only does RSA enjoy a great reputation due to their notoriety through their political, economic and social history, the country has become an El Dorado for businessmen and businesswomen. The leading military power in sub-Saharan Africa and 3rd in Africa behind Algeria and Egypt, does know that its expertise is vital for DRC in this area. The context could not have been otherwise for the rainbow nation to come to the aid of a friendly country, a SADC member too.  In the past, the three countries of SAMI-DRC formed what was called the MONUSCO special intervention brigade around 2011-2012 when they defeated M23 version 1. Their men succeeded in driving out M23 troops aided by Rwanda. The Zulus, Ndebele and Xosa country pulled out all the stops to respond to the call by DRC according to applicable rules till death in certain circumstances.

The “Rainbow Nation”  because south Africans  do hail from all races with various backgrounds. For a long time, South Africa lived under the yoke of the apartheid segregationist regime in which blacks had no rights even though they owned the land thereof to be deprived of it later on by the newcomers. They were grouped together in Bantustan countries like when apartheid was at its best. A humanly unworthy treatment of human life by a minority regime. African solidarity was the salutary banner for blacks coming out of this country; they went into exile, harboured in several African countries, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland (Eswatini), Guinea, DRC (the great singer  Miriam Makeba lived there) including the USSR and Scandinavia. Some leaders and activists were imprisoned, tortured and even killed, if they had not managed to escape into exile. DRC cry in time of crisis was heard by South Africa, and the country had no hesitation to send a military contingent to work alongside FARDC – DRC army. Altercations between Kigali and Pretoria following an outburst by the bloodthirsty tyrant Paul Kagame are far from discouraging SANDF from fulfilling their prerogatives in DRC. This arrogant dictator and thief of Congolese lands had questioned the essence of South African participation alongside the Congolese army. South Africa position as the economic hub and its determination to be fiercely involved in the success of the AfCFTA, makes them a leader in many areas. RSA mission is not their first peace stabilization exercise. They have done so in several other countries including both Kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho. The country military capacity places it in useful order to ward off any inclinations wherever its military is called upon to intervene. During the troubled era in the history of CAR- Central African Republic, the South African army showed incredibly sustained bravery. They fought alongside Bozize’s government troops against the Seleka and lost 13 officers in combats in March 2013. The South African army had to withdraw when President Bozize was overthrown. Economically, the Bukanga Lonzo project  in the DRC was piloted by South African farmers; the Congolese state called on South African expertise in the agricultural sector. South African farmers came to the aid of the nation by developing a food park with immensely exportable food crops. Unfortunately, human greed by DRC nationals in charge had condemned this project to failure while it was still in advanced initial phase with expectations of results running higher.

The “ubuntu” which advocated everywhere in South Africa is a slogan without illusions; a humanism that summons in the intellect a spirit of sharing, compassion and affliction. NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa Development) was a demonstration initiated by former President Thabo Mbheki. NEPAD existence was a premonition that sharing in a spirit of ubuntu leads to the best results. Its objective was to provide African Union countries with the best development opportunities to achieve emergence in the new millennium and in peace. South African hospitality is a haven of peace that benefits everyone, DR Congo nationals too. If the Congolese army has already tasted the fraternal warmth of men in South African uniforms, Congolese doctors will corroborate it. No country in the world contains a Congolese medical contingent as large as in South Africa. The country is home to a significant number of capable and competent Congolese doctors, generalists and specialists alike, and they are among the best in their field. The work undertaken and accomplished in the field of pacification by South Africa has resulted in South African winning Nobel Prize. In 1960 Albert Lutuli – founder of the ANC (African National Congress) party – was awarded the prize for having led the fight against apartheid. Desmond Tutu followed in 1984 for his fight against apartheid through non-violence, before the duo of Mandela and De Klerk were awarded the prize in 1993 for having worked towards the scraping of the apartheid regime. The country is the only nation in the world to have had two Nobel Peace Prize winners who lived on the same avenue – the famous Vilakzi Street in SOWETO where Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela lived once. Wealth in this southern African country is not only material; It is also intellectual as proven by these four Nobel Peace Prize winners even though they are no longer part of this world, all of them. In medicine, South African medicinal science virtues are among the most prized in the world. Such a supremacy places them in a useful order to help their neighbours and brother countries by devoting their humanity to maintaining peace. Had it not been for economic sanctions and condemnation of apartheid as a crime against humanity, Dr Christian Neethling Barnard could have won the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Science for having been the first doctor to successfully perform an artificial heart transplant in 1967. He later declared that he missed the Nobel Prize because he was a white South African.

Les mots et expressions ne suffiront jamais pour amplifier la volonté déterminante affichée par la République Démocratique du Congo de remercier dument la nation arc-en-ciel. La gratitude qu’elle lui exprime va au-delà des simples gestes fraternels pour titiller le sursaut de fierté des valeurs sociétales profondément ancrées dans le vivre social, imbu de la solidarité africaine. Envoyer son propre personnel à la mort  au profit de la paix dans un pays étranger, est une démonstration grandeur nature accomplie par la RSA envers la RDC. L’expression d’une telle fraternité dans la détresse est une logique qui répondrait difficilement aux prémisses qui sous-tendent la raison  praticable.  Cette compassion fraternelle de bouter hors d’état de nuire les RDF avec ses auxiliaires du M23/AFC, rend la RDC débitrice envers la RSA.  L’exorbitance du montant à échoir ne connaitra jamais de maturité ; l’irremplacabilité d’une vie humaine est un sacrifice qui ne se conjugue jamais par des versements monétaires aussi colossaux que possible.  Il s’agit d’un merci mille et une fois exprimé à maintes et reprises…indéfiniment.