A group of South African soldiers wounded in clashes with M23 rebels in eastern Congo have been flown back home for treatment.
The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) confirmed their evacuation but did not disclose the exact number of troops repatriated.
The soldiers had been receiving medical care in Goma, a city that fell to the M23 rebels in January. The rebel group, backed by around 4,000 Rwandan troops according to U.N. experts, has launched an aggressive offensive in Congo’s mineral-rich east. The Congolese government estimates that the violence has claimed about 7,000 lives.
An official from the South African military union reported that over 100 South African soldiers, including three in critical condition, were being brought back. Among them were two pregnant female soldiers. The troops were reportedly evacuated through Rwanda.
This evacuation follows the deaths of 14 South African peacekeepers in January. They were caught in heavy fighting between Congolese forces and the rebels near Goma. Their bodies were already returned to South Africa.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s involvement in the regional peacekeeping mission has sparked debate at home. Questions have been raised about whether the troops were properly equipped and whether their presence in Congo remains justified. Allegations of misconduct have also surfaced, with some soldiers recalled in 2023 due to disciplinary issues.
The southern African peacekeeping force, which includes troops from Malawi and Tanzania, was meant to replace the U.N. mission, MONUSCO. However, with escalating violence, the U.N.’s withdrawal has been postponed. Malawi has already announced plans to pull its soldiers out after losing at least three troops in recent battles.
As the conflict intensifies, South Africa’s role in the mission remains uncertain, with growing pressure to reassess its involvement in the troubled region.