It is a desperate attempt at finding something, anything at all, to embarrass the South African government and its respected standing in the UN system. [Interjections.] This is not how we are supposed to engage with problems in our country. I am here in the same country as hon Maynier, but he has never asked me for evidence of this call as made by Madam Vogt. For evidence of Madam Vogt's statement on 24 January 2013, he could have simply googled her name, and he would have found the statement.
South Africa will continue participating in the multilateral partnerships to ensure peace and stability in the region. While the loss of our soldiers is regrettable, it is important that we learn the lessons from such a loss but not abandon the cause to build a better continent and end the human suffering of fellow Africans. This mistake has been made before. In 1993, the world watched in horror as 18 American soldiers were killed and dragged through the streets of Mogadishu by Farah Aidid's rebels. They were part of a team that provided security for humanitarian relief in Somalia. The United States, US, government was then forced to withdraw its soldiers as people demanded to know why their soldiers died in some insignificant African country not linked to the US interest.
We know now that before that withdrawal, the US special forces had been successful in their mission of capturing Aidid's top generals, despite the unfortunate loss of 18 members. We also know now that although Americans at that stage did not see how Somalia was any of their business, the withdrawal of US forces resulted in Somalia degenerating into a failed state. As a result, over the past 20 years, the Al-Shabaab militia grew more powerful, and piracy activities along the Somali east coast developed unwatched.
This, as we know, has resulted in the capture of goods and abduction of people in boats and ships, including Americans. The dumping of Somalia by the US troops in 1993 has resulted in the single biggest maritime security issue for the whole world today, simply because someone convinced them, wrongly so, that Africa was not worth their attention and sacrifice. [Interjections.] Our people, who have benefitted immensely from the generosity of human solidarity, should not now be taught to be indifferent to the suffering of others and to distrust their own government.
The South African government will always endeavour to adhere to the Constitution in executing its mandate. We believe that we have done so even with the troops' deployment. However, if any administrative mistakes are identified about the flow of communication, particularly with Parliament, it will be a pity for that to be exploited to vilify this mission or our work on the continent in general. We stand prepared to take the lessons of the Central African Republic mission, both in terms of operational planning and communication, to ensure that we strengthen ourselves in future deployments.
Today, it is true - it is a fact - that now there is a call on South Africa to redeploy to the Central African Republic because of the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in that country. We shall not ever go back to what the apartheid regime did on the African continent. We will not raid the frontline states; we will not violate the sovereignty of states within the continent. We are part of the globe. I thank you. [Applause.]