TECH

M23 Rebels Initiate Assault on Goma, Leading to Deaths of Nine South African Soldiers in DRC Conflict

Johannesburg – Ongoing confrontations with the M23 rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have led to the loss of nine South African soldiers.

The South African Defence Force (SANDF) declared, “During this courageous stand against M23 rebels, SANDF has sadly lost nine members by Friday, (24 January 2025), after two days of fierce combat.”

Moreover, three soldiers from Malawi also perished in the clash.

In a statement released on Saturday, (25 January 2025), the SANDF confirmed that South African troops and their allies successfully thwarted the M23’s advance towards Goma, the provincial capital of eastern DRC.

As violence intensifies between M23 insurgents and government forces, thousands of civilians have been forced to evacuate their homes in eastern DRC.

Recently, M23 rebels have captured several towns, encircling Goma.

“The M23 hostile forces launched an all-out assault on our troops with the intention of capturing Goma, but they were met with a valiant defense from our courageous fighters,” the SANDF stated.

“Our forces not only halted the M23’s progression but also pushed them back.

“The M23 aims to take control of the city of Goma, but they faced strong opposition from the SANDF contingent, which effectively prevented their entry into Goma.”

The SANDF provided information regarding the deceased soldiers, stating, “Seven of these members were part of the South African contingent deployed in the eastern DRC in December 2023 as part of the 16-member regional bloc SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), and two members were from MONUSCO.”

However, the SANDF indicated that the extent of injuries among personnel has not been assessed yet.

In February of the previous year, South Africa dispatched 2,900 troops to aid the Southern African Development Community (SADC) force aimed at tackling armed groups in eastern DRC.

RELATED: South Africa Deploys 2,900 Soldiers To DRC To Assist Fight Against Rebels – The Bulrushes

Expressions of condolences have been extended to the families of the fallen soldiers and the broader defense community by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, alongside deputy ministers Major General Bantu Holomisa, Richard Hlophe, Acting Defence Secretary Dr. Thobekile Gamede, and the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya.

Meanwhile, the DRC has cut diplomatic relations with Rwanda, which is accused of backing the M23 rebels.

The DRC has evacuated its diplomats from Kigali as the rebels close in on Goma.

“Rwanda is committed to gaining control of the city of Goma,” Congolese army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge informed the media late Saturday.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has consistently denied any involvement with the M23, asserting that it is a “DRC Problem.”

The UN reports indicate that nearly 400,000 people have fled the violence since the beginning of January.

The recent death of Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, the military governor of North Kivu province since 2023, who was shot near the frontlines on Thursday, (23 January 2025), has sparked panic and hastened the evacuation of concerned residents.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *