A soldier from South Africa, serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, tragically lost his life when a hand grenade exploded near his sleeping quarters.
The incident occurred in Beni, and the cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The South African soldiers are part of the MONUSCO UN force and a separate mission from the southern African regional bloc SADC, aimed at assisting the Congolese government in combating rebel groups. This recent fatality marks the seventh South African soldier to die in Congo since February.
In previous incidents, two soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on an SANDF base in Sake last month, one died in a clash with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in May, another soldier passed away after receiving treatment for health issues in April, and two were killed in a mortar attack in February.
Following the February deaths, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded to criticism about the troops’ equipment in Congo. The UN force is currently in the process of withdrawing from Congo in stages, with the first phase completed last month. However, there is no set timeline yet for the next phase due to an escalation of clashes in the volatile east.
As the investigation into the recent tragedy unfolds, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and colleagues of the fallen soldier. May he rest in peace.
