The South African government has vowed that the 14 fallen South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who died in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be given a decent send-off.
The handing over of mortal remains will be held at the Airforce Base Swartkop in Centurion on Thursday. There will also be a memorial service to pay homage to the departed troops.
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared 7 days of mourning and the national flag was flown at half-mast to honour the fallen heroes.
The repatriation process of the remains has been agonising and riddled with a number of delays. This has been a complex affair as they had to conduct pathology procedures.
South Africa is part of the SADC mission SAMIDRC and UN mission MONUSCO to restore stability in the mineral-rich parts of Congo that are facing instability.
South African authorities worked with the United Nations to facilitate the movement of mortal remains.
The UN confirmed to SABC News that the mortal remains of the 14 soldiers departed Kampala, Uganda at 8.30am local time on Wednesday, and given the duration of the flight to South Africa, the aircraft carrying the remains has very likely arrived in the country already. A handover ceremony and memorial will be held on Thursday.
M23 rebel group
The UN provided a humanitarian update from the region, describing the current humanitarian situation and a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning the ongoing offensive by M23 in North and South Kivu, supported by the Rwanda Defence Force, and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the M23 rebel group from Goma and other controlled areas.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Bruno Lemarquis says, “The security and humanitarian situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains extremely volatile with escalating armed clashes, mass displacement and increasing insecurity in both North Kivu and South Kivu. The activities of armed group, in particular the M23, along with the regional dynamics, continue to fuel instability, exacerbating civilian suffering and humanitarian challenges. But there are more than the M23 in the DRC. And, for example, this morning we learned that at least 52 civilians were killed, reportedly killed in Ituri, by the armed group called the CODECO. Since the beginning of January, we have witnessed an unprecedented advance by the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces in North Kivu and South Kivu.”
The fighting has resulted in the deaths of at least 2900 people with many more injured while M23 advances towards Bukavu in South Kivu continue after overrunning Goma on January 27th.
“The M23 may use alternative routes to progress towards the town of Bukavu in the coming days, with again massive consequences on the civilian population. In Goma, where the M23 is now in control, largely in control, the situation remains tense and far from normal due to the ongoing M23 occupation. The security situation has nonetheless improved in some areas but security concerns persist. We have also seen over the past few days, recourse to mob justice in the in the context of proliferation of light weapons and ammunition and the looting of courthouses. This situation adds to the challenges of reinstating the rule of law in a zone with a tragic legacy of gross humanitarian, gross human rights violations and impunity.”
These developments come as the UN Security Council negotiates a draft resolution that strongly condemns the ongoing offensive and advances by the M23 rebel group in North and South Kivu, with the support of the Rwanda Defence Force, and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities in eastern DRC. The draft text, seen by SABCNews, demands the immediate withdrawal of the M23 from Goma and the full reversal of illegitimate parallel administrations in the DRC territory while reiterating its urgent call for all parties to conclude a ceasefire agreement.
As SABC’s Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports the language of the draft could change during ongoing Council negotiations but currently calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to the M23 and withdraw from the DRC territory without preconditions and without delay. It expresses its intention to consider additional targeted sanctions including against the leadership of the M23 and those providing external support to the group, including those violating the existing sanctions regime and arms embargo.
The draft strongly condemned attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure including United Nations and associated personnel. It further urges the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks as a matter of urgency under the Luanda and Nairobi Processes. It’s unclear when negotiations will conclude and the draft put to a vote in the Council. -Additional reporting by Sherwin Bryce-Pease
