Countries intervening in other nations have long been a subject of significant interest and debate in international relations. Scholars have proposed various theories to explain such actions, with role theory suggesting that states act based on their perceived responsibilities and duties within the global system. A common perspective holds that viewing conflicts as security concerns and intervening can help prevent negative consequences from spreading beyond the conflict zone.

A key example is South Africa's intervention in Lesotho in 1998. Some (De Wet, 2014; Makanda, 2016) argue that this move was driven by the need to protect national interests, particularly water resources. However, others believe South Africa was more concerned about potential political unrest to spill into its borders. This situation highlights the intricate balance between national interests and maintaining regional stability. A similar dynamic played out in South Africa's involvement in the Central African Republic in 2013, where concerns about the conflict spreading to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a Southern African Development Community (SADC) member, prompted fears of conflict securitisation. This highlights the importance of regional stability and the imperative for states to act in the broader interest of their regions.

These interventions prompt significant questions regarding the motives behind state behaviour internationally. While some actions are driven by national interest or perceived obligations, others are more about containing potential spill-over effects and ensuring regional stability. In this context, securitisation theory becomes a critical framework, focusing on how particular issues are framed as security concerns and presented to the public. The DRC is a stark illustration of this theory in practice, as the country's ongoing conflict has created a complex security landscape involving multiple parties.

In the DRC, conflict has been securitised by various actors, including South Africa and international organisations. This has led to military forces, peacekeeping missions, and humanitarian aid deployment. However, securitising the conflict has also contributed to the marginalisation of certain groups and the continuation of violence.

The DRC has experienced violent conflict since gaining independence in 1960, and despite numerous efforts, a lasting solution remains elusive. The First Congo War (1996-1997), often dubbed “Africa’s First World War,” highlighted the gravity of the violence (Mutisi, 2016). This was followed by the Second Congo War in 1998-1999, with South Africa playing a pivotal role in conflict resolution efforts. Even after the civil war ended, fresh conflict broke out in 2003 when officers from prior wars were tasked with integrating their forces into the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC). Some, aligned with the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), resisted this integration, adding to the ongoing instability.

The National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), initially a rebel group, entered the FARDC through a 2009 peace agreement (Joseph, 2016). However, members of the CNDP rebelled again, forming the March 23 (M23) group to resist the removal of their leadership from the eastern DRC. This group, formed mainly from ex-CNDP members dissatisfied with the 2009 peace deal, has since contributed significantly to the instability and insecurity in the region, leading to severe human rights abuses and the displacement of civilians.

Rebel movements in the DRC, particularly the M23 group, have been identified as security threats, resulting in the formation of the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade, to which South Africa contributed troops. This brigade, operating under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission, played an active combat role against rebel groups, aiming to neutralise armed forces in the region. Their efforts led to the defeating of the M23 rebels and the signing of a peace agreement in December 2013, temporarily ending the conflict.

The DRC’s challenges extend beyond conflict, encompassing the devastating impacts of disease outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19. Amidst the Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020, attacks on infrastructure and health personnel significantly hindered humanitarian response efforts. The simultaneous presence of active conflict and a health crisis demonstrates the interconnectedness of the challenges in the region. (Charnley et al., 2024; Mlamba, 2021). The conflict's escalation following the defeat of M23, alongside increased activity from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), has further destabilised the region.

In October 2019, during the Ebola crisis, an attack by the DRC military on the ADF triggered retaliation, resulting in the deaths of over 200 civilians. This weakened the government’s ability to protect its citizens, while UN forces’ failure to safeguard civilians during the outbreak bred local resentment. Armed groups, such as Boko Haram in West Africa, have historically exploited socio-economic vulnerabilities, and the same dynamic is evident in the DRC. Civilians, facing poverty and a lack of options, become susceptible to the incentives offered by rebel groups, further deepening the cycle of violence and instability.

South Africa’s role in Lesotho, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other conflict-ridden regions, highlights the complex dynamic shared between national interest and regional stability. As its interventions were preoccupied with the spillover effects and the securitisation of conflicts, it is well noted how important it is to address security threats that could cross a country’s national border. As in Mali, the securitisation theory underlines the state’s ability to turn issues into military affairs that lead to interventionism regarding peacekeeping efforts. Such actions also beg questions about the long-term blowback from intervention, such as group marginalisation and continued violence.

As seen by the events in the DR Congo, military intervention should be combined with political, economic, and social reforms to help conflict-ridden areas achieve peace and stability. South Africa's undertaking of these interventions somewhat ties into its broader responsibilities within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), hence buttressing the concept that national security interests are integral to regional security.