The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, is on an official visit to South Africa aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation.
On the sidelines of the 71st anniversary of the South African Army, Kabombo held talks with his counterpart, Angie Motshekga. According to the Congolese Defense Ministry, discussions focused on the revision of the 2004 military agreement binding Kinshasa and Pretoria.
The two officials agreed to adopt resolutions following technical work by sectoral experts from both countries. The talks are grounded in the General Cooperation Agreement signed on January 13, 2004, which frames bilateral collaboration.
Context: South Africa’s Withdrawal from MONUSCO
The meeting comes weeks after South Africa announced its decision to withdraw its troops from the MONUSCO mission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa formally notified UN Secretary-General António Guterres of the decision, citing the need to consolidate and reorient the resources of the South African National Defence Force after 27 years of involvement in UN peacekeeping operations in the DRC.
South Africa, one of MONUSCO’s top ten troop contributors, currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed under the UN mandate. The withdrawal is expected to be completed before the end of 2026, in coordination with the United Nations.
Strengthened Bilateral Ties
Despite Pretoria’s exit from MONUSCO, military cooperation between the two countries has intensified in recent years.
In July 2023, Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties across security, economic, infrastructure, and social sectors.
Ramaphosa previously authorized the deployment of 2,900 South African troops to eastern DRC under the SAMIDRC operation (December 2023–December 2024), aimed at supporting Kinshasa’s efforts to restore peace in conflict-affected regions. The mission represented an investment of more than 2 billion rand (approximately $134 million) funded by the South African government.
The planned revision of the 2004 military agreement signals a new phase in the Pretoria–Kinshasa strategic axis, as both governments seek to redefine defense cooperation amid evolving regional security dynamics.
