Learning from experience? The agency of SANDF in MONUSCO and its impact on civil-military relations of South Africa

Abstract

This research proposes to verify which aspects of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) experience in United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR CONGO (MONUSCO) has contributed to the civil wishes achievement upon the militaries in post-apartheid South Africa. For this purpose, this case study leans on Bruneau and Matei (2008) theoretical assumptions and guides itself through a qualitative methodology based on documental analysis reunited by a narrative review procedure. This article is divided into two major parts, besides the introduction and final remarks. In the introduction, one contextualizes the political inflections that occurred in post-apartheid South Africa and the methodological matters that guide this work. Henceforth, theoretical aspects of civil-military relations are presented in the first part. In the second part, one evaluates the impacts of SANDF in MONUSCO for military effectiveness, efficiency, surveillance mechanisms, and civil control in South Africa. Lastly, final remarks of this research are made, which states that although it has partially contributed to civil wishes concerning effectiveness and control over the military through formal surveillance mechanisms, the experience of SANDF in MONUSCO has produced negative impact for the ratification of efficiency, which has, consequently, dampen the gains stemmed from Pretoria’s formal supervision efforts over the militaries in post-apartheid South Africa, placing the State in a dubious situation about an adequate civil control and harmonious civil-military relations.

Keywords: Civil-military relations; SANDF; MONUSCO.