In a statement released on Saturday evening by Dlamini Siphiwe, the army’s head of communication, seven of the dead are under Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) while two are part of MONUSCO.
Some of M23 figthters on Duty in North Kivu province
Nine
South Africa National Defense Force (SANDF) soldiers have been confirmed killed near Goma City in North Kivu province.
In a
statement released on Saturday evening by Dlamini Siphiwe, the army’s head of
communication, seven of the dead are under the Southern African Development
Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) while two are
part of MONUSCO.
They were shot and killed by M23 rebels during fierce fighting on Friday and Saturday.
In a statement, SAMIDRC tried to stop
the rebels' advance to capture Goma city.
The
statement also indicates that several soldiers were also injured during the gunfire
exchange.
The statement however indicates that the rebels were pushed
back and prevented from advancing to Goma city.
Fighting on Friday
also resulted in the shooting to death of General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, military
governor of North Kivu province.
M23 rebels
had this week vowed to defend themselves in case of soldiers under SAMIDRC and
MONUSCO joining the government army on the front.
Tensions remain high as
fighting continued on Friday in the area specifically along Kasengesi-Mubambiro
road, around the town of Sake, and on the Kanyamahoro-Kibumba road in
Nyiragongo territory.
On Thursday, M23 rebels released a statement daring
to capture Goma City.
Many of the embassies have been briefed to be alert
and ready to leave Goma city in case the situation escalates.