(Reuters) – Nine South African soldiers were killed in the conflict zone in the Eastern Congo, the South African Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday, when Congolese troops and peacekeepers fought to stop a rise in the rebels supported by Rwanda.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and its allies previously warded off a nightly advance to the provincial capital with over a million inhabitants, shared two army sources. The sound of the nearby heavy bombing relaxes shook the city in the early morning.
The M23 uprising in the mineral-rich east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been going on for three years .
By Friday, two South Africans stationed as part of the UN Peace Mission and seven other members of the Armed Forces of the South African regional block in the Congo were killed in two-day fiercely battles, the South African National Defense Force said in a statement.
“The members have conducted a brave fight to prevent the rebels from penetrating according to Goma,” it said, adding that the M23 had been pushed back.
The deaths are a result of an escalation of hostility, which this week also led to the murder of the military governor of North-Kivu on the front.
The situation in Goma seemed to be calm on Saturday, since people in the middle of a strong police presence are delighted to do their business, said Reuters reporter there.
The Congolese government and army did not immediately answer a request for comment on the stand of the fights in the region.
The United Nations announced on Saturday that due to the deteriorating security situation in the province, they started to temporarily move their staff from Goma.
Hundreds of thousands flee
The Congo, the UN and others accuse the neighboring country of Rwanda, to heat the conflict with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this, but the increase in fighting has led to renewed demands for a withdrawal.
“Rwanda has to set his support for the M23 and withdraw,” said the European Union on Saturday in an explanation.
The Rwandian government did not react immediately to a request for comment.
In the event of an earlier uprising in 2012, the M23 managed to take Goma briefly, which caused international encoders to shorten the help for Rwanda. Even then, the rebels couldn’t keep as much soil as it is today.
The uncertainty has also tightened the already bad humanitarian situation in the eastern provinces, since according to the UN refugee agency, another 400,000 people were forced to leave their houses this year alone.
“The situation of the civilian population in Goma is becoming more and more dangerous and the need for humanitarian aid is enormous,” said Human Rights Watch on Saturday.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to advise on the crisis.
