The Zimbabwean military, led by General Constantino Chiwenga and under the leadership of Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa, is widely recognized as one of the strongest forces in Southern Africa.
Notably, it is the only army that managed to decisively push back the Rwandan military and force them out of Kinshasa. Had Zimbabwe’s forces not intervened, Rwanda’s James Kabarebe may have succeeded in overthrowing the Congolese government.
Zimbabwe’s army is unquestionably the most powerful in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
When the Zimbabwean Defense Forces withdrew from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2002, partly due to Western sanctions and UN pressure, it marked the beginning of a prolonged period of instability in the country.
Since then, various rebel factions, many of which have been supported by Rwanda, have controlled significant portions of the DRC. The M23 movement, for example, is one of the most prominent of these groups, contributing to the ongoing turmoil.
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In contrast, South Africa’s military is largely untested in real combat situations. Many of its forces, often described as unfit or inexperienced, have struggled to combat insurgent groups, as seen in Goma, where they were routed by rebel forces.
The lack of a proven military record has raised doubts about South Africa’s ability to effectively intervene in regional conflicts.
In light of the escalating tensions and the threats posed by regional instability, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had no option but to engage in diplomatic talks with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
The situation left him with little choice but to smooth over relations in order to maintain peace and stability in the region.
