Zuma rejects criticism against S.African troops in C.Africa
- 5 years ago
President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday dismissed claims that South African troops deployed in restive Central Africa were protecting private business interests as "conspiracy theories."
Zuma is facing anger at home after 13 soldiers were killed and 27 wounded as rebels in the Central African Republic carried out a bloody coup a little over a week ago.
South Africa's heaviest military loss since apartheid has raised questions about the nature of the deployment, and prompted the opposition to demand an immediate pull out of the troops.
But at a memorial service for the soldiers, Zuma said his critics were "peddling various unfounded allegations and conspiracy theories."
"We reject any insinuation that these soldiers were sent to the CAR for any reason other than in pursuit of the national interest and the interests of the African continent.
"Our national servicemen died for a worthy cause. They died in defence of the country's foreign policy," said Zuma.
Zuma is facing anger at home after 13 soldiers were killed and 27 wounded as rebels in the Central African Republic carried out a bloody coup a little over a week ago.
South Africa's heaviest military loss since apartheid has raised questions about the nature of the deployment, and prompted the opposition to demand an immediate pull out of the troops.
But at a memorial service for the soldiers, Zuma said his critics were "peddling various unfounded allegations and conspiracy theories."
"We reject any insinuation that these soldiers were sent to the CAR for any reason other than in pursuit of the national interest and the interests of the African continent.
"Our national servicemen died for a worthy cause. They died in defence of the country's foreign policy," said Zuma.