
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that three soldiers died yesterday (January 27) fighting the M23 rebels in the DR Congo.
The official confirmation comes amid calls back in South Africa that the soldiers should be withdrawn and brought back home to secure the country’s porous borders.
“Following an exchange of mortar bombs between the FADRC, Congolese Defence Force and the M23 rebel militia on Monday 27 January 2025 near Goma airport where the SANDF base is located, three members of the SANDF were caught in the crossfire and were killed.
“The M23 rebels launched several mortar bombs in the direction of the Goma airport, which landed in the SANDF base, this resulted in the SANDF losing three members,” the SANDF said in a statement on Tuesday, 28 January 2025.
It also said a soldier who was injured last week has died in hospital. This takes the death toll to 13 within a week.
“The rest of the members continue to receive medical attention at the level 3 Hospital in Goma,” it added.
Despite the shattering losses, the SANDF says it is still committed to the peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo.
“Our troops continue to operate with resolve, courage and discipline in pursuit of peace and stability in the region.”
The South African army is mum on claims that its soldiers in the DR Congo have run out of ammunition, and some of them have been captured while others are trapped inside Goma airport.
The SANDF also dismissed a circulating video purportedly showing its members raising a white flag as a sign of surrendering.
It said this is an old practice in war when you want a temporal pause so that you could move the injured and collect the bodies of the dead.