South Africa's contingent of 2,900 soldiers deployed to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expected to cost just over R2 billion (£850 million), as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission takes on a year-long tour to help stabilise that troubled region. The SAMIDRC also includes soldiers from Malawi, Tanzania and the DRC itself. The deployment of this force follows its principle of collective self-defence and collective action, which states: ‘Any armed attack perpetrated against one of the state parties shall be considered a threat to regional peace and security, and shall be met with immediate collective action.’ President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his deployment of the force as ‘South Africa's international obligation’ towards the SADC.