Death toll for peacekeeping soldiers in Congo climbs to 13

KIGALI, Rwanda

The death toll from fighting between peacekeeping soldiers and M23 rebels in eastern Congo has reached 13, authorities said Saturday.

The number includes nine South African soldiers and others from Malawi and Uruguay deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force or under the UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO).

South Africa’s National Defense Force said that their soldiers were killed in an offensive with M23 rebels who launched a full-scale attack on their troops to take control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

“In the course of this gallant resistance against M23 rebels the South African National Defense Force lost nine members by Friday after two days of fierce fighting,” it said.

Seven killed were part of the South African contingent deployed in eastern Congo in December 2023 as part of the SADC Mission in Congo (SAMIDRC), which supports the Congolese government in its efforts to fight the M23 rebels and bring stability to the restive eastern region, while two were from UN mission (MONUSCO), according to the army.

It said other soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

SADC condemned on Saturday a recent attack on its mission by the M23 armed group, saying “such actions undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and security of the DRC (Congo) and the SADC region.”

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, expressed concern Saturday about the worsening security and humanitarian situation in Congo.

Mahamat noted that there is an urgent need for all parties to agree to a ceasefire and immediately end hostilities.

The M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, has intensified its offensive in eastern Congo, capturing key towns and advancing toward Goma. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has repeatedly denied claims of supporting the rebels.

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh told a UN briefing in Geneva on Friday that the number of people displaced by fighting has surged to more than 400,000 in 2025 alone.