Nine South African soldiers have been killed in eastern Congo as fighting escalates between Congolese forces, U.N. peacekeepers, and M23 rebels, South Africa’s defense department confirmed Saturday. The clashes occurred as the Rwanda-backed insurgents advanced toward Goma, a city of over one million people near the Rwandan border.
Congolese troops and their allies repelled an overnight assault on Goma, with heavy bombardment heard on the city’s outskirts. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said the soldiers “put up a brave fight” to halt the rebels’ progress, adding that the M23 had been pushed back.
The three-year M23 insurgency in the mineral-rich eastern Congo has intensified, with the group seizing more territory than ever before. The conflict has drawn warnings from the United Nations of a potential regional war.
The fatalities include two U.N. peacekeepers and seven members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) force, deployed to support Congo. The situation in Goma appeared tense but calm on Saturday, with residents cautiously resuming daily activities under heavy police presence.
Amid the deteriorating security, the U.N. announced the temporary relocation of non-essential staff from Goma. The conflict has displaced over 400,000 people this year, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The Congolese government, the United Nations, and other international entities have accused Rwanda of providing support to M23 rebels through troops and weapons—a charge Rwanda denies. The European Union on Saturday called for Rwanda to “cease its support for the M23 and withdraw.”
The M23 previously captured Goma during a rebellion in 2012 but held less territory then compared to now. The group’s recent gains have alarmed regional and international actors, with the U.N. Security Council scheduled to discuss the crisis on Monday.
The conflict’s resurgence has deepened the already critical humanitarian situation in Congo’s eastern provinces. Human Rights Watch warned Saturday of the growing risks to civilians in Goma, stating that “the humanitarian needs are enormous.”
