13 foreign soldiers killed in eastern Congo
Non-essential UN staff and their families evacuate, following the fight between M23 rebels and the Congolese Armed Forces in Goma, North Kivu province.
What you need to know:
- Three Malawians and one Uruguayan have also been killed and eighteen wounded in clashes between Friday and Saturday.
At least 13 foreign soldiers, nine South African, have been killed in the worsening conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where Congolese, UN and Southern African troops have been pushing back against the M23 rebel group that is campaigning to seize the North Kivu capital Goma.
Three Malawians and one Uruguayan have also been killed and eighteen wounded in clashes between Friday and Saturday.
The South African army reported that "in the course of this gallant resistance against M23 rebels, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) lost nine members by Friday, 24 January 2025, after two days of fierce fighting.”
“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 Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) and two members were from Monusco. The number of wounded has yet to be confirmed, but some are suffering from more or less serious injuries. The troops fought bravely to prevent the rebels from reaching Goma, as they had intended, and were repulsed by the South African contingent," the South African army said in a communiqué.
South Africa deployed 2,900 soldiers at the end of 2023 as part of the Southern African Development Community force. This mission also comprises troops from Malawi and Tanzania. The SAMIDRC replaced that of the East African Community Regional Force.
Monusco, which has been in the country since 1999, has extended its mandate to support the Congolese army against growing M23, which the UN says is supported by Rwanda. Kigali continues to deny this allegation.
There has been intensified fighting around Goma, North Kivu's largest city, with increasing casualties and a wave of displaced civilians. On Friday, the Congolese army announced the death of the governor of North Kivu, Major-General Peter Cirimwami, who was killed while overseeing frontline operations a few kilometres outside Goma.
In the wake of the deteriorating security situation around Goma, Monusco has said it is temporarily relocating its non-essential personnel from the city, such as administrative staff and others who can continue to perform their duties from another location.
