By Staff Reporter
PRETORIA-Nine South African soldiers were tragically killed in intense fighting with M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed on Friday.
The soldiers, part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), were engaged in a two-day battle to halt the M23’s advance towards Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.
The clash unfolded when the M23, a rebel group active in the region, launched a full-scale assault aimed at seizing Goma.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, South African forces, supported by their regional counterparts, mounted a determined defense, repelling the insurgents. According to the SANDF, the M23’s attack was successfully thwarted, preventing the rebels from taking control of the key city.
“The M23 hostile forces had launched a full-scale attack on our troops with the intention of taking over Goma but were unable to advance due to the heroic resistance put up by our gallant fighters,” the SANDF said in a statement.
“Our forces were not only able to halt the M23 advancement but were able to push them back.”
The confrontation, however, came at a high cost.
Seven South African soldiers, alongside two members of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), lost their lives in the battle.
Several others were injured, though the exact number remains unconfirmed. The SANDF has begun notifying the families of the fallen soldiers.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, along with senior officials, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and to the broader South African defence community.
“Our hearts go out to the families of the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace and security,” Motshekga said in a statement.
The South African contingent was deployed to the volatile region in December 2023 as part of SADC’s broader effort to stabilize eastern DRC.
This region has been plagued by years of armed conflict, with the government forces struggling to control rebel groups like the M23, who continue to pose a significant threat to regional stability.
The South African government has reaffirmed its commitment to the SADC mission, pledging to continue supporting efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the DRC. Further updates on the condition of the injured soldiers and the next steps for SANDF operations in the region are expected in the coming days.
