05 April 2013 (16:10 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Jumada l-Ula 1434/16 Farvardin 1391/25 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“We have taken a decision to withdraw our soldiers….Our mission was to help train the soldiers. Since the coup and the self-appointment of rebels, it was clear that the government is no longer there.”-Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa

Remember the recent UN supported French invasion of Central African Republic?  I thought not.  South Africa already had ‘peacekeeping’ troops there, and they suffered loses as the rebels took control of the capital of CAR.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) leaders initially stated they would not withdrawal from CAR.  Things change fast nowadays.  The one eighty by South Africa comes after an emergency summit of the African Union (AU).

South African (SA) military leaders said the withdrawal is being motivated by the fact that the rebels have heaver weapons than first thought.  Apparently the SA ‘peacekeepers’ are not equipped to counter those heavy weapons.

The AU refuses to recognize the new leaders of CAR.  Some opposition party members in the SA government are now questioning the reasons SA forces were sent to CAR back in 2007.

However, there are reports that SANDF is deploying troops to the countries surrounding CAR.  SA Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, refused to answer local media questions: “I won’t answer questions about the so called military build up because the question should not have been asked in the first place.”  

The South African Civil Society Information Service (SACSIS) said the pending pan-African war is all about money: “Research has revealed that ANC heavyweight insiders like Billy Masetlha, Joshua Nxumalo and Paul Langa were, or are involved in various business interests in the CAR. These interests are further linked to the ruling ANC through the increasingly notorious Chancellor House Trust, perceived to be involved in crony capitalism, as well as being a key funder of the ruling party.”

The SACSIS also accused governments of intentionally backing rouge regimes to justify war: “…the role of SANDF troops in CAR indicates a dangerous shift by South Africa towards supporting illegitimate regimes in order to protect economic interests with strong links to powerful domestic political networks…….South Africa is increasingly perceived not as much as a regional heavyweight but as a comprador for Western interests. ”