13 UN peacekeepers killed in DR Congo clashes with rebels
New Delhi, Jan 26: Thirteen soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been killed in clashes with rebels from the M23 group, as fighting intensifies around the eastern city of Goma.
The South African military confirmed that nine of its soldiers died while attempting to repel a rebel advance on Goma, while three Malawians and a Uruguayan peacekeeper were also killed, according to a BBC report.
Emmanuel Macron, French President said he had spoken with the leaders of both the DRC and Rwanda, as international pressure mounts for an end to the violence. The United Nations has begun evacuating non-essential staff from Goma, a city of more than 1 million people, due to the escalating conflict.
A UN official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity, confirmed that two South African peacekeepers were killed on Friday, while a Uruguayan peacekeeper lost his life on Saturday. Malawi’s UN mission also reported the deaths of three Malawian peacekeepers. South Africa’s Department of Defence stated that an additional seven of its troops had been killed over the past two days during fierce fighting with M23 rebels.
Uruguay’s military identified their fallen soldier as Rodolfo Álvarez, a member of the Uruguay IV Battalion. The battalion, according to a statement released Saturday, has been operating without interruption to fulfill the UN mandate and oversee the evacuation of non-essential civilian and military personnel from Goma.
The UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, announced the relocation of administrative staff and other personnel from North Kheivu to safer areas because of the current situation ensuring that essential operations will continue. “This precautionary measure safeguards staff safety while ensuring the UN’s vital operations in the region remain uninterrupted,” MONUSCO stated.
A UN Security Council meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, has been moved to Sunday in response to the escalating crisis. The M23 group has urged Congolese forces in Goma to surrender in order to avoid further bloodshed.
Death of North Kivu’s Governor and Humanitarian Crisis
DR Congo’s army confirmed that North Kivu’s military governor, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, was shot by M23 rebels while inspecting the frontline on Thursday. Despite efforts to airlift him to Kinshasa for treatment, he succumbed to his injuries, said army spokesperson Gen Sylvain Ekenge. Fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese army has intensified since the beginning of the year. The rebels have captured key towns such as Minova and Masisi.
According to the United Nations, the ongoing conflict has displaced over 400,000 people this year alone, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Hospitals in Goma are reportedly overwhelmed with casualties, and local leaders claim that more than 200 civilians have been killed in M23-held areas.
The M23 group, which has taken control of significant swathes of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since 2021, is widely believed to be backed by Rwanda—a claim Kigali has neither confirmed nor denied. Rwandan officials have previously accused DR Congo of collaborating with factions responsible for the 1994 genocide.
Several countries including France, UK, Germany, and the US, have advised their citizens to leave Goma amid the worsening security situation. Human Rights Watch has warned of escalating risks to civilians, accusing both M23 and Congolese government forces of committing grave abuses.