Tragedy struck as two South African soldiers lost their lives to mortar fire in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the first fatalities since South Africa deployed troops to the region.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed the casualties, stating that three other soldiers sustained injuries in the attack.
The soldiers were part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission aimed at combating the numerous armed groups operating in eastern DRC. The base targeted in the attack was located in the North Kivu province, with the injured personnel swiftly transported to a hospital in the regional capital, Goma, for urgent medical attention.
This incident comes amidst South Africa’s announcement of sending an additional 2,900 soldiers to eastern Congo, although it remains unclear whether the victims were part of this new deployment.
The escalating violence in the region has been attributed to various armed groups, including the notorious M23 rebel group, which has a long history of conflict with Congolese forces. While Kinshasa accuses M23 of receiving military support from neighboring Rwanda, the latter vehemently denies these allegations, despite evidence suggesting otherwise according to experts from the United Nations and European Union.
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Recent statements from M23 indicate a resurgence of activity in eastern Congo, prompting fears of renewed attacks on Goma, a city it previously seized a decade ago. The deteriorating security situation has resulted in over a million people being displaced since November.
It also exacerbated what is already one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with 6.9 million people already displaced.
The Norwegian Refugee Council has warned of dire consequences if armed groups advance further towards Sake, a key town near Goma, stating that such a scenario would pose a significant threat to the entire aid system in eastern Congo.
With Goma being home to over 2 million people, including hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, the potential isolation of the city could lead to catastrophic outcomes for the region as a whole.
