Armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 13 foreign soldiers, including three UN peacekeepers, and forced over 400,000 people to flee their homes, according to Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP).
The violence pits government forces against the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda supports, according to reports.
The fighting erupted in Sake and surrounding areas near Goma, North Kivu. Heavy confrontations between the Congolese army and M23 rebels have worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Among the victims were two South African soldiers and one Uruguayan from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Both South Africa and Uruguay confirmed the casualties. Seven additional South African soldiers and three from Malawi, serving under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force, also died.
MONUSCO, which fields approximately 15,000 troops, reported that one of its elite units actively engaged in intense combat against the M23 fighters. Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed that ongoing violence displaced more than 400,000 people in eastern Congo since the start of 2025, with the total number of displaced people in North and South Kivu now exceeding 4.6 million.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was concerned about the hostilities. He called on the M23 to halt its offensive immediately, withdraw from occupied territories, and honor the July 31, 2024, ceasefire agreement.
The African Union also urged an immediate end to the fighting, pointing out the need to de-escalate tensions.
Similarly, the European Union issued a statement on Saturday, calling on the M23 to cease its advance and demanding Rwanda withdraw its forces immediately. All 27 EU member states signed the declaration.