Monday, February 3, 2025 - At least two Tanzanian soldiers were killed in clashes over the past 10
days in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The army confirmed the development on Sunday.
The offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, which has captured
the major city of Goma and promised to march on to the capital, Kinshasa, has
rattled international observers.
It is the latest escalation in a mineral-rich region plagued by decades
of fighting involving dozens of armed groups.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian Peoples Defence Force, TPDF soldiers had been
deployed under the Southern African Development Community, SADC, a regional
bloc operating in eastern DR Congo.
“Following a series of attacks in the areas of Sake and Goma carried out
by M23 rebels on the 24th and 28th of January 2025, JWTZ has lost two
soldiers,” army spokesperson Gaudentius Ilonda said.
He also confirmed that four others had been wounded and were currently
receiving treatment in Goma.
According to him, the remaining units continue to carry out their duties
under the guidance of SADC.
He further stated that preparations were underway to repatriate the
bodies of the Tanzanian soldiers.
At least 13 South Africans, three Malawians, and a Uruguayan national
have died in the DR Congo clashes.
Earlier this week, SADC called for a joint summit with the eight-country
East African Community, EAC, over the crisis.
Rwanda on Sunday said it would welcome such a meeting, while also
criticising SADC’s involvement in DR Congo.
Rwanda has never admitted to military involvement in support of the M23
group. However, a United Nations expert report last July said it had roughly
4,000 troops in eastern DR Congo and accused Kigali of having “de facto”
control over the group.
Rwanda alleged that DR Congo supports and shelters the FDLR, an armed group created by former Hutu leaders who massacred Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
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