JOHANNESBURG - South African soldiers in the DRC are finally coming home.
The SANDF says it started a phased withdrawal of its staff and equipment from this week.
READ: DRC conflict | SANDF chief insists soldiers aren't trapped in DRC
14 South African soldiers were killed in fighting in the Eastern DRC in January as rebels backed by Rwanda pushed towards Goma.
The SADC force they were a part of announced a withdrawal earlier this year but they seemed unable to leave and then agreed to fix the airport.
A deal between the DRC and Rwanda brokered by the United States and Qatar now seems to make the withdrawal possible.
SANDF Director for Defence Corporate Communication, Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala discussed this with eNCA.