Global Dynamics

Brazil Aids in SANDF Jungle Warfare Training

07/26/2022
By Guy Martin

Members of Brazil’s armed forces have assisted the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) with jungle warfare training as part of the South African contribution to the United Nations’ mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Last week the SANDF’s Captain T Myeko reported that 30 members of the SANDF’s Quick Reaction Force I received their Jaguar badges and certificates on 15 July after successfully completing training conducted by a Jungle Warfare Mobile Training Team from Brazil.

The training started on 27 June and included jungle warfare tactics such as reaction to contact, immediate action, live fire, casualty evacuation, navigation, tactical movement, night navigation, emergency close air support, improvised explosive device detection and base reinforcement drills.

The 30 SANDF Quick Reaction Force members now have the responsibility to train the rest of the Republic of South Africa Quick Reaction Force (QRF) that joins the United Nations’ mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).

The Certificate Ceremony was held at South Africa’s Quick Reaction Force Base in the DRC and attended by representatives from the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade Headquarters, including acting Force Intervention Brigade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel A A Manaki. Also in attendance were Force Intervention Brigade Staff Officers, Republic of South Africa Battalion Commander, Tactical Intelligence Unit Commander and the different Quick Reaction Force Commanders from the Tanzania Quick Reaction Force, Kenya Quick Reaction Force and Nepalese Quick Reaction Force.

As far back as 2013, South Africa identified the fact that training South African soldiers in jungle warfare was something Brazil could offer. Along with diving, mountaineering and riverine operations these are all military skills that fit into the African theatres of operation where the SANDF is deployed.

Last year the first 200-strong South African Quick Reaction Force was deployed to the DRC, working closely with the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and the Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) to combat illegal armed groups and protect vulnerable civilians.

The QRF is an additional South African element for MONUSCO, and QRF soldiers join, but not necessarily work with, the RSA Battalion and Tactical Intelligence Regiment unit in-country.

Earlier this year, a second South African QRF contingent from 1 Parachute Battalion was getting ready to deploy to the DRC. The QRFs will provide a speedier response to incidents as part of the FIB offensive mandate.

Meanwhile, over the last couple of months, Mafikeng-based 10 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion Group has been undergoing jungle warfare training in South Africa ahead of the next RSA Battalion rotation to the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade around October/November. Exercises Matha and Phirima took place in Limpopo to get 10 SAI soldiers ready.

21 South African Infantry Battaltion is currently the South African component of the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade, tasked to protect Congolese civilians from attacks and intimidation by the numerous rebel groups active in the central African country.

This article was published by defenceWeb on July 25, 2022.