The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed in a statement on Saturday, January 25, 2025, that it lost nine soldiers in two days of intense fighting with the M23 as the group sought to capture Goma.
Seven of the fallen soldiers were part of the South African contingent deployed in eastern DRC in December 2023 as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the country, while two members were from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Additionally, four other soldiers died while fighting to prevent the M23 from capturing the city of Gomaâ€"three from Malawi and one from Uruguay, according to international media reports.
The United Nations force entered Congo more than two decades ago and has around 14,000 peacekeepers on the ground. The mission has often faced criticism for its perceived inability to effectively address the security situation in the troubled region.
M23 has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, encircling the eastern city of Goma, which has about 2 million people. The group announced on Thursday that its mission is to liberate the Congolese people, particularly Rwandophones, whom the group alleges have faced long-standing persecution.
M23 had also warned of a potential confrontation with peacekeeping forces from the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and SADC troops after seizing Sake town, accusing them of collaborating with the Congolese army coalition.
The Congolese government coalition comprises FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, troops from the Southern African Development Community, Burundian soldiers, European mercenaries and a host of local Congolese militia groups.
M23's political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated that while the group has assured it harbours no hostile intentions toward the peacekeeping forces, they are prepared to defend themselves against attacks.
Earlier M23 had claimed responsibility for the killing of Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu Province. Cirimwami had on Thursday reportedly travelled to locations near Sake where the rebels engaged in battle with the government army coalition.
Since M23 took control of several other areas like Minova and Masisi, the DRC government and international organizations have expressed concern that the group might advance and capture Goma. The group accuses the Congolese government of failing to honour past commitments regarding the interests of the Tutsi community in eastern Congo, which has faced marginalization and persecution for years.
The United Nations announced on Saturday that it had temporarily decided to relocate non-essential staff from Goma due to the deteriorating security situation amid calls for citizens to leave the area.
Meanwhile, various leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have called for a ceasefire and urged that peace talks resume as soon as possible to restore normalcy to the region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/13-sadc-and-un-soldiers-killed-in-confrontation-with-m23
