South African Peacekeeper Among 18 Killed in DR Congo Clashes
M23 rebels intensify attacks, leaving a devastating death toll and worsening the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo
- 14 South African, 3 Malawian, and 1 unidentified peacekeeper die in clashes with M23 rebels in Goma
- M23 rebels, backed by claims of ethnic defense, continue their push for control of Goma and the region’s resources
- The violence claims over 700 lives, injures 2,800, and triggers severe food and water shortages
A South African peacekeeper succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Saturday, raising the death toll to 18 peacekeepers from recent confrontations with M23 rebels in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The casualties include 14 South African peacekeepers, three from Malawi, and one from an undisclosed nationality.
The South African contingent is part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the region. The M23 rebels, engaged in a long-standing battle with Congolese forces, are allegedly motivated by the desire to control the region’s valuable natural resources.
They launched a significant offensive last week, claiming to have taken the city of Goma, though Rwanda denies backing the rebels.
The M23 group claims it is fighting for the rights of minority Congolese Tutsis, who have faced alleged discrimination due to their ethnic ties to Rwanda’s Tutsi community.
The conflict has led to over 700 deaths, with 2,800 people injured in less than a week. The United Nations has urgently called for an end to the violence, which has also triggered a humanitarian crisis, including severe food and water shortages and widespread displacement.
