South Africa, Malawi and Uruguay on Saturday introduced that soldiers from their particular militaries were eliminated as they fought to stop the advancement of M23 rebel boxers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) stated that 9 of its soldiers were eliminated throughout a battle royal with M23 boxers as they tried to bear down the city of Goma, the essential city in the mineral-rich eastern.
South African army states M23 advancement halted
“The M23 hostile forces had launched a full-scale attack on our troops with the intention of taking over Goma but were unable to advance due to the heroic resistance put up by our gallant fighters,” the SANDF stated in a declaration.
South Africa’s armed force stated its pressures had the ability to stop the advancement and press the M23 rebels back.
The SANDF stated that the variety of wounded had yet to be verified and some had differing levels of injuries.
Two of the dead South African soldiers belonged to the UN peacekeeping pressure, while the various other 7 South Africans belonged to the Southern African Development Community Mission, likewise referred to as SAMIDRC.
Malawian and Uruguayan peacekeepers likewise eliminated
Before South Africa’s army verified the variety of its dead, the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) stated that 3 of its peacekeepers were eliminated.
“We confirm the loss of three of our courageous soldiers who were part of the SADC Mission in the DRC,” stated Emmanuel Mlelemba.
“These soldiers fell in the line of duty during an encounter with the M23 rebel group operating in eastern DRC. As the situation remains volatile, further details will be shared later,” he included.
A Uruguayan participant of the UN peacekeeping pressure was likewise eliminated while 4 others were injured, Uruguay’s army introduced Saturday.
UN Security Council reschedules emergency situation conference to Sunday
The UN Security Council has actually relocated an emergency situation conference from Monday to Sunday, adhering to a demand from Kinshasa.
Diplomats on Saturday stated the emergency situation talks would certainly occur at 10:00 am (1500 GMT).
The head of the UN peacekeeping objective in DRC, Bintou Keita, is anticipated to talk.
The UN peacekeeping pressure, likewise referred to as MONUSCO, went into the DRC greater than twenty years earlier and has about 14,000 peacekeepers on the ground.
Experts from the DRC, the United States and the United Nations have actually charged Rwanda of backing the M23 armed team. The rebels are generally made up of ethnic Tutsis that escaped from the Congolese military over a years earlier.
kb/rm (AFP, Reuters)
