Two South African soldiers deployed with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were killed on Wednesday, February 14th, in an explosion at their base near Goma, North Kivu.
The South African Department of Defense confirmed the incident in a press release on Thursday, stating that a mortar bomb landed inside one of the South African continent’s bases at 1:30 pm local time. The cause and perpetrators of the attack remain unknown.
“A total of two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) lost their lives as a result of the incident,” the statement read. “Several SANDF members sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention at a medical facility in Goma.”
An investigation into the explosion is underway to determine the details surrounding the attack.
The deceased soldiers were part of the SADC mission deployed to the DRC in December 2023. The mission aims to support and assist the Congolese government in restoring peace, security, and stability to the conflict-ridden North Kivu province.
