At least two South African soldiers have been killed in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where they are battling M23 rebels.
“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirms that on 14 February 2024 at about 1330 hours, a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African Contingent military bases inflicting casualties and injuries to the SAND soldiers,” said SANDF in a statement on Thursday.
“As a result of this indirect fire, the SANDF suffered two (2) fatalities and three (3) members sustained injuries.”
The South African Contingent is part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIRC) that is deployed to support and assist the government of DRC in its effort to bring peace, security and stability in that region.
These are the first South African soldiers to be killed in DRC since the beginning of their deployment on December 15, 2023.
The development, which signals an escalation of the conflict, comes against the backdrop of intense fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese forces near the strategic towns of Sake and Goma.
It also comes high on the heels of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement that his country would contribute 2,900 soldiers under SADC to defeat the M23 rebels who have captured large swathes of land in North Kivu.
Working with Tanzania and Malawi military units under the SADC joint force, the South African forces have been shoring up the Congolese army’s defences to prevent the M23 rebels from capturing key towns in eastern DRC, especially Sake and Goma- the capital of North Kivu.
SANDF said the injured soldiers were taken to the nearest Hospital in Goma for medical attention.
“Details of this incident are still sketchy at the moment, further investigation will be conducted to determine the basis of the incident,” said SANDF.
Condolences
In 2012, M23 seized Goma, compelling SADC to form the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) comprising forces from Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa which defeated the rebels in North Kivu in 2013.
The defeated insurgents fled to Rwanda and Uganda where they were cantoned for over five years before sneaking back to DRC to wage war.
The M23 rebels accuse DRC authorities of reneging on their commitment to integrate them in the armed forces and helping the Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, to terrorise Tutsi communities in North Kivu.
However, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has described the M23 as a terrorist group backed by Rwanda to destabilise and exploit Congo’s natural resources.
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla, the Acting Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya expressed their “heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and wish the injured members a speedy recovery.”
