Rwanda provides transit for South African troops’ bodies in the DR Congo conflict

The bodies of 14 South African soldiers who lost their lives in combat in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo were returned to their homeland on Friday, February 7, following their transfer through Rwanda.

These soldiers were part of the Southern African Development Community mission in DR Congo (SAMIDRC), which was assisting a Congolese army coalition fighting the AFC/M23 rebels. The alliance included Burundian forces, FDLR, European mercenaries, and Rwandan genocidal militia.

The fallen troops were from the SAMIDRC-deployed South African National Defense Force (SANDF).

The UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) returned their remains to Rwanda via the Rubavu District border. Following their arrival in Rwanda, the cars carrying the dead proceeded to the Cyanika border between Rwanda and Uganda, where they would go to South Africa, according to The New Times.

Following Goma’s surrender, South African soldiers were restricted to Goma airport and their base in Sake.

Spokesman for AFC/M23 Lawrence Kanyuka said they were being provided with food and drink. In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kanyuka also requested that the South African government remove all of its troops.

“M23 does not intend to use all of their weapons to harm the SANDF members who are present at their base.” The distribution of food and water is being facilitated by M23. Their government need to request their prompt repatriation.

MONUSCO is returning the remains of its fallen comrades to their home countries today.

In the DR Congo, South Africa has more than 1,500 troops that were sent there in December 2023 as part of the SADC mission. The armed troops of Malawi were instructed by President Lazarus Chakwera on February 5 to start making plans to leave the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the MONUSCO base, there are still over 3,000 Congolese soldiers and their sympathizers.

The presidents of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) are gathering in Dar es Salaama, Tanzania, in an effort to find a long-term solution to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

According to the AFC/M23, MONUSCO helped free armed Congolese troops and FDLR forces under their control so they could murder people in Goma, the rebel-held capital of North Kivu Province, last week.

In an attempt to “kill civilians,” MONUSCO sent 100 armed Congolese army and FDLR militia soldiers into Goma, according to rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka on February 6. Those who survived the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi established the FDLR, a terrorist group located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On X, Kanyuka wrote, “We are warning the public about the criminal activities of MONUSCO in Goma: it released 100 armed FARDC and FDLR elements into the city to kill civilians.” Five of the infiltrators, he added, were apprehended. Three of them were FARDC members, and two were FDLR combatants. They were discovered to have three grenades and four firearms.

As soon as the rebels took control of the city, they took steps to restore order, and on February 5, the AFC/M23 named new North Kivu Province authorities. The rebel commanders stated in an announcement that “organizing the territorial administration in the Democratic Republic of Congo is necessary and urgent.” North Kivu was given a new governor, Joseph Bahati Musanga. There is now peace in Goma and the province as a whole, something many claim they haven’t experienced in decades.