Nine South African soldiers have been killed in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the South African Defence Department confirmed on Saturday. This comes as Congolese forces and peacekeepers intensify efforts to halt the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels toward the city of Goma.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The overnight fighting, aimed at defending the provincial capital of over 1 million people, was marked by heavy bombardment that shook the city in the early hours, according to Congolese army sources.
The M23 insurgency, now in its third year, has escalated significantly in 2025, with the rebels seizing more territory in the mineral-rich region than ever before. The United Nations has warned that this could lead to a broader regional war.
South African forces, part of the Southern African regional bloc deployed to support Congo, suffered casualties during two days of fierce battles. Seven soldiers from the bloc’s force and two from the U.N. peacekeeping mission were killed. The South African National Defence Force stated, “The members put up a brave fight to prevent the rebels from proceeding to Goma as was their intention.”
This deadly escalation follows the killing of North Kivu’s military governor on the front line earlier in the week. While Goma remained calm on Saturday, heavy police presence was visible as residents cautiously resumed daily activities.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The ongoing violence has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in eastern Congo. The United Nations reported that over 400,000 people have fled their homes this year alone, with Human Rights Watch describing the conditions for Goma’s civilians as “increasingly perilous.”
Rwanda has been accused by Congo, the U.N., and others of fueling the conflict by supplying troops and weapons to the M23 rebels—an allegation Rwanda denies. The European Union has called on Rwanda to cease its support for the rebels and withdraw.
The U.N. has begun temporarily relocating non-essential staff from Goma due to deteriorating security conditions. The Security Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss the escalating crisis.
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