- Rebel attacks kill fourteen
- South African soldiers deceased
- Violence increases in DRC
Amid an increase in violence, rebel attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have claimed the lives of at least fourteen individuals, including two South African soldiers.
A civil society organisation reported on Thursday that rebels from the CODECO armed group attacked a gold mine near Djugu district in Ituri province, killing at least 12 persons and abducting 16 others.
In the meantime, South Africa reported on Thursday that mortar fire in eastern DRC claimed the lives of two of its soldiers, marking the first casualties since the country’s contingent was deployed there.
“The indirect fire caused two fatalities and three injuries among the members of the SANDF.” The injured were transported for medical assistance to the nearest hospital in Goma, according to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The dates of both assaults were Wednesday.
In recent weeks, there has been an increase in violence in the conflict-affected area, with many attributing attacks to the M23 insurgent group, which has been engaged in years of combat with Congolese troops in the region.
M23, one of over 120 armed factions in the region, reportedly receives military assistance from neighbouring Rwanda, according to Kinshasa. There is evidence to support this, according to experts from the European Union and the United Nations, but Rwanda denies the allegations.
However, recent statements from M23 suggest that the group is in the midst of an assault in eastern Congo. This has sparked concerns that it may once more target Goma, a city it captured a decade ago.
Independent rebel group CODECO is a loose collection of militias dominated by Lendu farmers. It is known for targeting mineral- and gold-rich parts of the resource-rich nation and fighting other rebel forces.
Thousands of South African soldiers have been deployed in an effort to reduce violence in the DRC. SADC is fighting armed rebel groups in the east.
South Africa Boosts Congo Presence
This week, South Africa declared that an additional contingent of 2,900 soldiers would be deployed to eastern Congo. It was unclear who was killed and injured in Wednesday’s attack in that new deployment.
The attacked base was located in the province of North Kivu, according to SANDF spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini. The injured were transported to a hospital in Goma, the capital of the region.
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More than one million individuals have been displaced since November, according to humanitarian organisations. Those 6.9 million have already evacuated their residences in response to one of the most severe humanitarian crises in history.
The recent advance of armed groups towards the strategic town of Sake, located near Goma, poses an imminent threat. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council on Thursday, this endangers the entire aid system in eastern Congo.
“The region would be devastated if Goma, which is home to more than 2 million people and hundreds of thousands of displaced people fleeing armed conflict, were to be isolated,” the NRC stated.
