2 South Africans, 3 Malawi Soldiers Killed In Eastern DRC As Rwanda Relations Worsens
Congo has broken all diplomatic ties with Rwanda, and South Africa announced on Saturday that nine of its peacekeepers had been killed amid an increase in combat with Rwanda-backed rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo.
The three-year M23 conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated in January.
The rebels took control of more land than ever before, prompting the United Nations to warn of the possibility of a larger regional conflict.
Congo and its allies announced on Saturday that they had beaten back M23 insurgents who were moving on the regional capital, Goma.
In just last 48 hrs : I am told that over 7 South African soldiers were ALLEGEDLY killed at frontline alongside DRC army and FDLR genocidal militias in DRC . @SANDF_ZA has either chosen silence or it will announce it soon . SADC ‘s presence with armed groups in DRC, where they… pic.twitter.com/eoPD4flcYC
— Les Misérables (@Dachronica) January 25, 2025
The sound of neighboring heavy bombing shook the city in the early hours of Saturday.
Congo, the United Nations, and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of inciting the violence with its own troops and weaponry.
Rwanda disputes this, but the Congolese army said on Saturday that Rwandan snipers were responsible for the death of North Kivu’s military governor on the battlelines this week.
Congo has withdrawn its ambassadors from Rwanda and requested that Rwandan authorities halt diplomatic and consular activities in the Congolese capital within 48 hours, according to a letter from the foreign ministry to the Rwandan embassy dated January 24.
A ministry representative said on Saturday that the letter marked “the most severe form of diplomatic breakdown.”
Due to the late hour, Rwandan officials were unable to provide an immediate comment.
Diplomats say the United Nations Security Council will convene on Sunday to examine the crisis, indicating heightened international concern. It had originally intended to meet on Monday.
The violent combat in recent days killed two South Africans stationed with the United Nations peacekeeping mission and seven others in the Southern African regional bloc’s force in Congo, according to the South African National Defence Force on Saturday.
“The members put up a brave fight to prevent the rebels from proceeding to Goma as was their intention,” it said.
Congolese military and allied forces have pushed back the rebels, but fighting continues throughout the war zone, Congo’s army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge said during a press briefing.
Ekenge noted that an advance in the neighboring South Kivu region had also been halted.
According to Reuters, the scene in Goma appeared quiet during the day on Saturday, with people going about their business despite a large police presence.
The DRC 🇨🇩 has officially severed ties with Rwanda, ordering Congolese diplomats to leave Kigali and Rwandan diplomats to exit Kinshasa within 48 hours. However, this move is unlikely to bring any significant change to the ongoing conflict in Congo or resolve existing issues. pic.twitter.com/4lw0WJccct
— Zoom Africa 🌍 (@ZoomAfricaa) January 25, 2025
The United Nations announced it had begun temporarily evacuating non-essential personnel from Goma owing to the deteriorating security situation.
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The escalation and approaching threat to Goma, which is home to over 1 million people, has sparked increased calls for Rwanda to disengage.
“Rwanda must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw,” the European Union said in a statement on Saturday.
The M23 temporarily took control of Goma during a previous revolt in 2012, leading Western donors to withdraw aid to Rwanda. Even then, the rebels did not control as much territory as they do today.
The insecurity has further exacerbated the already grave humanitarian situation in the eastern regions, forcing 400,000 additional people to evacuate their homes this year alone.
2 South Africans, 3 Malawi Soldiers Killed In Eastern DRC As Rwanda Relations Worsens
