Ricardo TeixeiraThe first anniversary of the Second Battle of Goma should have been a moment of sober reflection for South Africa. Partners will be more cautious about mandates, force structures, and command arrangements that assume South African leadership by default. South Africa has traditionally paired its military deployments with a strong emphasis on mediation, dialogue, and negotiated settlements. When South Africa speaks about conflict resolution in the region now, it does so under a cloud of doubt created by Goma. On this first anniversary of the Second Battle of Goma, South Africa has an opportunity to choose learning over denial.