Nine South African soldiers lost their lives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo while battling an advance by M23 rebels, who are reportedly aligned with Rwanda.
Seven of the fallen soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) force, which was deployed in December 2023 to support Congolese troops. The remaining two were United Nations peacekeepers, the South African army confirmed in a statement.
The joint forces successfully repelled the rebels’ attempt to seize Goma, a key trading hub in the region, according to the statement. The conflict highlights the ongoing instability in the region as international and regional forces work to restore peace.
