Three South African soldiers were killed, and at least 14 others were injured on Thursday during violent clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the South African National Defence Union (SANDU) confirmed in a statement on Saturday. The incident occurred as Congolese military forces repelled a nighttime assault by rebel groups.
According to sources within the Congolese army, the rebels launched a heavy weapons attack, targeting the military’s defensive positions. In response, the Congolese army mounted a counteroffensive, successfully halting the advance of the attackers.
A Congolese army officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We stopped their advance. We are keeping them away from Goma,” a city that has seen repeated clashes due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Though the Congolese government and military have not publicly commented on the incident, the situation remains tense, with the United Nations raising concerns about the potential for the conflict to spread into a wider regional war. Allegations have emerged that Rwanda is involved in fueling the unrest by allegedly sending troops and weapons to support rebel factions in the DRC. Rwanda has consistently denied these accusations.
The violence in the region took another tragic turn on Friday, when it was reported that the governor of North Kivu was killed while on the frontlines. His death highlights the continuing instability and the severe risks faced by both military personnel and civilians in the conflict zone.
This latest escalation comes amid ongoing tensions between the DRC and neighboring countries, with fears mounting over the possibility of broader regional conflict. The situation is closely monitored by international organizations, including the UN, as the humanitarian crisis deepens in the affected areas.