Africa

Three Tanzanian soldiers killed in DRC mortar attack

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) was deployed on 15 December 2023 to support the Government of the DRC to restore peace and security in the eastern DRC. (Photo: SADC)

By Mary Wambui | Monday, April 8, 2024

Three other TPDF soldiers are nursing serious injuries from the attack, according to SADC.

Three Tanzanian soldiers have died in a mortar attack targeting a camp of the Southern African Regional Force in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement, the SADC Secretariat stated that the deceased were soldiers of Tanzania's People's Defence Force (TPDF) and that three others were nursing serious injuries from the attack.

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"The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) sincerely regrets to inform the public of the passing on of three soldiers and three that got injured, all from the United Republic of Tanzania."

"This unfortunate incident happened after a hostile mortar round had fallen near the camp where they were staying," the statement disclosed, adding that despite the setback, the mission remained focused on carrying out its mandate by the principle of collective self-defence and collective action outlined in the SADC Mutual Defence Pact (2003).

SAMIDRC was deployed in the Eastern DRC in December last year with an offensive mandate in support of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) military operations.

It comprises about 5,000 troops from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania that replaced the East African Community Regional Force's (EACRF) troops that exited the Eastern DRC on December 8 last year.

Weeks after its deployment, the SADC Secretariat formally wrote to the UN Security Council, requesting that it provide it with logistical and operational support for its forces in the Eastern DRC.

Among the items requested were funding, air assets, intelligence sharing, and equipment. The Secretary-General, António Guterres, will respond to the request in June this year, when he is expected to submit a report on possible UN support to regional forces deployed in the DRC under Resolution 2717 of December 2023.

The request, however, attracted criticism from Kigali, which has questioned the mission's neutrality and warned the African Union (AU) and UN against endorsing and supporting it.

On its part, the council has indicated that it would evaluate the circumstances under which "limited logistical and operational assistance could be provided to an AU-mandated regional force deployed within MONUSCO's operational area, in alignment with MONUSCO's mandate and within existing resources.".

The situation in Eastern DRC has worsened since October last year, when infighting between the local army and the M23 militia group resumed, leading to the replacement of people from their homes.

After the exit of EACRF troops last year, the M23 regained control of the areas it had vacated as it made advances towards Goma, the capital city of North Kivu.

The attacks between the warring factions have claimed several SAMIDRC troops and created fertile ground for the spread of disinformation about its operations.

"The SAMIDRC wants to categorically state that the situation on the ground is normal and that SAMIDRC continues with their routine operational schedules. Information on any developments about the mission and the safety of the troops will always be communicated through the official channels of SADC," the mission said on Sunday.