One S/African soldier dead, 13 injured in DRC

One South African soldier died and 13 others sustained injuries in fighting against rebels on Thursday in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Friday.

The fighting occurred in Sake town, in the eastern province of North Kivu. The fight is against the March 23 Movement (M23), the SANDF said in a statement.

South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said its men conveyed the injured soldiers to a hospital and they are recovering.

Since early 2024, SANDF deployed a regional force of SADC in North Kivu. SADC comprised of military elements from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi,

The deployment is to counter the M23 rebels who have taken control of territories in the province.

On Thursday, fighting broke out between the M23 rebels and the DRC military and its allies, including SADC near Sake.

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Sake town is the last barrier between the rebels and Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu and a strategic, tourist and commercial city in the region.

There was an exchange of artillery fire throughout the day in the combat zone.

The M23 rebels, who occupy areas in Rutshuru territory and the Masisi territory of North Kivu, have also engaged in combats against the DRX military in Kanyabayonga town in the Lubero territory.

There has been a mass civilian displacement of people from their own, fleeing the fights, according to the report.

Kanyabayonga town, where nearly 35,000 internally displaced persons are currently taking refuge, is also considered a strategic gateway that controls access to the northern part of North Kivu province. (Xinhua)