The South African Armed Forces reported Thursday that two of its soldiers lost their lives and three others were injured when a mortar hit their base in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an area that has seen increased unrest.
The South African National Defence Force, the overarching authority for the nation's military operations, suggested that the mortar incident on Wednesday was a consequence of "indirect fire." An investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators behind this tragic attack.
In response to the escalating conflict dynamics, South Africa recently announced the deployment of an additional 2,900 troops to eastern Congo as part of the Southern African Development Community mission in the conflict-torn DRC. It remains unclear whether the casualties were part of this new contingent.
The targeted base was situated in the North Kivu province, as confirmed by Siphiwe Dlamini, the spokesperson for the South African National Defence Force. The wounded soldiers were promptly transported to a hospital in Goma for urgent medical attention.
In a region marred by escalating violence in recent weeks, the M23 rebel group has come under scrutiny for a series of attacks against Congolese forces. Speculations abound that M23's recent activity hints at a potential resurgence targeting Goma, a city it previously seized a decade ago.
The conflict's toll on civilians has been staggering, with more than 1 million people displaced since last November, adding to the nearly 7 million who have already fled their homes and exacerbating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Recently, a refugee group has raised alarm over armed groups advancing towards Sake, a crucial town near Goma, warning of the catastrophic repercussions should Goma become isolated. Goma is home to over 2 million people, including hundreds of thousands of internally displaced individuals, heightening concerns about the region's stability and the viability of humanitarian relief efforts in the face of escalating hostilities.