South African Peacekeepers Killed in DRC: Urgent Action Needed

South African Peacekeepers Killed in DRC: Urgent Action Needed

At least 13 peacekeepers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were killed by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after two days of fierce fighting.

The SANDF soldiers, part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), were deployed to support and assist the government of Africa’s second-largest country to restore peace, security, and stability.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting yesterday regarding the deadly clashes, following Kinshasa’s withdrawal of its diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed rebels advanced on the key city of Goma.

Ambassador Mathu Joyini emphasized the need for decisive international action to protect peacekeepers and address the ongoing violence.

“This Council must send a clear message that peacekeepers’ lives matter. We must value and safeguard the contribution of those entrusted to carry out the mandates adopted in this Chamber,” she said on Sunday.

M23 is one of the groups seeking to establish control in the mineral-rich regions of North and South Kivu provinces located near the border with Rwanda. According to reports, more than 400,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of 2025.

“We deplore these unwarranted attacks against MONUSCO [United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] and the SAMIDRC uniformed personnel who are deployed not only to promote peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC but, by extension, in the African continent in general.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an opposition party in South Africa, has called for the withdrawal of SANDF troops from the DRC, arguing that they are not well-equipped to handle the situation. This call has sparked a debate on the socio-economic impact of South Africa’s involvement in the DRC conflict.

The violence has displaced over 400,000 people since the beginning of 2025, underscoring the urgent need for a lasting political solution.

Joyini called for the resumption of both the Luanda and Nairobi Processes and commended President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola for his efforts in the Luanda Process.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also called on Rwandan forces to withdraw from the DRC and halt support for M23 fighters.

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