South Africa has an interest in the stability of the region. Some of South Africa’s key exports to the region include refined petroleum, liquid pumps and excavation machinery.

The interest of SA is also demonstrated in the extent of investment towards the bilateral trade relations , in this case SA’s both inbound and outbound tourism opportunities in the region.

In 2024 South Africa Airways launched a new service of five flights per week from OR Tambo international airport and Lubumbashi International Airport in the DRC.

The recent conflicts which had SA arm lose nine soldiers is set to complicate the already long-constrained diplomatic relations between SA and Rwanda a neighbouring country to the DRC.

Responding to the impact on the travel economies between SA and the Central African region Sthandiwe Mkhize, a Tourism Analyst said :“ Kenya the East African country is a leading African travel market to SA, it therefore goes without saying that the conflict in the region and diplomatic constraints has ripple effects across the entire African economy”.