SA troops in DRC need air support— former general
A former SA National Defence Force (SANDF) general has identified challenges faced by the 2,900 soldiers deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying they badly needed air support.
The SANDF is preparing its main force as part of the Southern African Development Community’s (Sadc) regional intervention in the DRC, dubbed SAMIDRC.
The general warned that the M23 rebels had no regard for the rules of conventional warfare.
Two SANDF members have been killed in a mortar attack on the SA camp, leaving three others seriously wounded and a Special Forces operative at risk of losing his eyesight.
“They killed two South Africans and wounded three with their first warning shot,” said the former general, who prefers to remain anonymous.
Before that a convoy containing Special Forces and others from the small rapid reaction force already in the DRC were ambushed when rebels fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the vehicles.
The theory of how to effectively combat guerrilla warfare prescribed a multifaceted approach which included countering tactics, hit-and-run strategies and taking on the rebels at their own game, the general said.
He warned the SANDF should not approach the intervention as just another peacekeeping deployment, because doing so would mean more soldiers will return home in body bags.
“If we do not have helicopters, maybe we can involve our Gripens and other aircraft for aerial surveillance. Without proper intelligence your forces on the ground are blind. There are other Sadc countries who do have aerial assets, like Angola. They should be involved because they are part of Sadc.
“And there are other problems the soldiers are facing. Neither SAMIDRC nor the Congolese army have the support of the population. They also seemingly don’t know how to gain that support. At this stage the population hates the soldiers because they have never been able to rely on them for protection against armed groups.
“SAMIDRC has no idea where the rebels are, whereas the rebels know every corner of the jungle in that area. They have operated without much support for years and know every escape route — very much the same as the insurgents in Mozambique,” the general said.
The biggest problem that SAMIDRC is facing is that it has no air support. When the UN Intervention Brigade was created in 2013, Rooivalk attack helicopters were so efficient that the most important strategic firing positions of the M23 rebels were destroyed within a week. That advantage caused the rebels to call for a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.
The general said addressing the underlying grievances fuelling the insurgency was crucial as soldiers alone could not achieve it on the battlefield.
Icy relations between Rwanda and SA at last week’s discussions at an AU summit in Addis Ababa were evident. Rwanda has already complained to the UN that SA is aiding the DRC government’s suppressive and aggressive stance against minority groupings in eastern DRC.
Asked what he would do to mitigate the impossible mission the SANDF is facing, the general said he would immediately start deploying combat-ready troops into the area.
“In the absence of Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters, I would deploy as many of the serviceable G5 and G6 guns as possible. That would provide proper fire support to the soldiers.
“Determine the two most strategic areas in the conflict zone and place a proper infantry battalion in each. Ensure those troops are properly trained and armed with enough ammunition supplies. Ensure that each of those areas has enough logistic supplies to enable the soldiers to proceed for some time without resupplies.
“We do not want another Battle of Bangui, where the soldiers ran out of ammunition when the rebels started their main offensive. Place at least one battery of artillery at each of the areas for area domination.
“The soldiers will have to include the Congolese forces in their patrols to interact with the locals to hopefully convince them that they can rely on them for protection. Disrupt the movements of the rebels by denying them the freedom of moving where and how they want.”
Angolan President Joao Lourenco hosted a mini-summit in Addis Ababa on Friday last week in a bid to revive peace efforts between the DRC and Rwanda. President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the meeting, but it is unclear if the meeting achieved notable progress.