「The #SANationalDefenceForce is preparing to send reinforcements from #SouthAfrica to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (#DRC), said military sources, after nine South African soldiers were killed and several injured in fighting there on Thursday, 23 January and Friday, 24 January.

Parliament has called for a probe into the combat readiness of the force and whether it has adequate air and other support after its heavy losses.

The #SANDF announced on Saturday that nine soldiers had died and an unnamed number were wounded in successfully repelling a full-scale attack on them by Rwandan-backed #M23 rebels who have laid siege to the provincial capital, #Goma.

“Due to the heroic resistance put up by our gallant fighters,” the M23 had not only been halted but had been pushed back, said the SANDF.

It said seven of those killed were members of the Southern African Development Community (#SADC) Mission in DRC (#SAMIDRC) while two were members of the #UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, #Monusco. Their mission is to neutralise armed rebel groups like M23 which have been terrorising civilians in eastern DRC for decades.」

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-26-sandf-to-send-reinforcements-to-drc-after-nine-sa-soldiers-die-in-battle/