South Africa Risks Showdown With Rwanda Over Congo Mission.

South Africa is leading a regional force called Operation Thiba, which is moving into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to replace a United Nations force that has been unable to stabilize the region. The mission is an initiative of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), but it is unclear how it will be funded. Rwanda has been training and funding the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo, and the new mission puts SADC on the opposite side of the conflict. South Africa is sending 2,900 troops to Congo at a cost of $124 million, which will likely strain its already depleted coffers. SADC approached the European Union for funding but was rebuffed, and the US Congress is hesitant to support financial assistance for a SADC force. A major concern for the mission is a lack of adequate air cover, as South Africa's air force is underfunded and has limited resources. [Extracted from the article]