Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has extended the employment of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops in the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and Sudan, the Presidency said on Tuesday.
“President Jacob Zuma has informed Parliament that, in terms of section 201(2)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, he has extended the employment of members of the SANDF for service in fulfilment of the international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards the United Nations,” Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.
For a period starting 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, 1 345 SANDF members were employed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to participate in MONUSCO as part of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).
According to the Presidency, six additional members of the SANDF will be further employed taking the number up to 1 351.
During the 5th Ordinary Summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Luanda, Angola in January, leaders recommitted themselves to bring about peace and stability in the region, especially in the conflict countries.
The summit urged MONUSCO to urgently intensify its operations to eradicate all other negative forces operating in the eastern DRC, since their activities were also threatening the security of the Great Lakes Region. - SAnews.gov.za
