A file photo shows SANDF soldiers. <i>AFP</i>
A file photo shows SANDF soldiers. AFP    

South Africa is set to send SANDF troops into battle against rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

TimesLive reported that the South African government viewed military conflict against the Forces for Democratic Liberation of Rwanda in the DRC as “inevitable” after the FDLR missed a UN deadline to disarm.

“The FDLR has failed to comply with the deadline. It renders a military option inevitable,” Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesman Clayson Monyela said in the report.

South Africa already has 1000 troops stationed in the DRC as part of the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade. The brigade has been tasked with “neutralising” threats in the region.

A number of SANDF troops were wounded in an attack in May last year when their base was attacked by rebels linked to the Mai Mai group.

South Africa is also involved in a peacekeeping mission in Sudan, also under the banner of the United Nations.