The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) on Wednesday dismissed a U.S. media report that some of its soldiers had surrendered to rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
National Security News (nationalsecuritynews.com), a U.S.-based online publication, published a report Tuesday, claiming that several SANDF soldiers deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC had surrendered to M23 rebels.
“We want to state it categorically that all SANDF members deployed in the DRC have been accounted for. The convoluted article published by the faceless Washington correspondent is dismissed with the contempt it deserves. This is not the first time such unfounded and baseless news articles have been written about the SANDF since its deployment in the DRC under SAMIDRC.”
“The SANDF views such attempts to discredit the defence force in the most serious light by faceless people, and will not standby and allow its good name to be tarnished. The SANDF as the authority for the deployed members shall at all times inform the South African public about the situation and safety of its members in the DRC.”
Peoplesmind