South Africa’s permanent representative to the United Nations, ambassador Mathu Joyini, has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and supporting the continent’s overall peacekeeping efforts.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting yesterday following deadly clashes in the eastern DRC, prompted by Kinshasa’s withdrawal of diplomats from Kigali as Rwanda-backed rebels advanced on the key city of Goma.

At least 13 soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the DRC were killed by M23 rebels in the eastern region after two days of fierce fighting. Among them were nine members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), who are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). The mission supports the DRC government in restoring peace, security, and stability.

Joyini has called for decisive international action following the killing of peacekeepers.

“This council must send a clear message that peacekeepers’ lives matter. We must value and safeguard the contribution of those entrusted to carry out the mandates adopted in this chamber,” she said yesterday.

M23, a group seeking control of the mineral-rich regions of North and South Kivu provinces near the Rwandan border, has displaced more than 400 000 people since the beginning of 2025, according to reports.

“We deplore these unwarranted attacks against MONUSCO [United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] and the SAMIDRC uniformed personnel who are deployed not only to promote peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC but, by extension, in the African continent in general.”

Condolences

The Ambassador expressed condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

“The cost of being a UN peacekeeper should never be this high. This Security Council has passed many resolutions providing clear guidance on such violations against peacekeepers. The Security Council must take decisive action against callous acts to undermine its role and decisions to maintain international peace and security.”

Support

Joyini urged the Rwanda Defence Forces to halt support for the M23 and called on the rebel group to cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.

“We cannot accept a world wherein non-state actors are armed to do the will of other states, while those states refuse to accept responsibility for unnecessary armed violence and potential war crimes.”

Lasting solution

The ambassador stressed that the international community can no longer afford to passively observe the conflict in the eastern DRC, which continues to displace, maim, and kill civilians.

“The Security Council must use the tools at its disposal to act against those who perpetuate the conflict in eastern DRC, including calling for their withdrawal from the DRC.

“There must also be a resumption of both the Luanda and Nairobi Processes to find a lasting political solution to the cyclical conflict in the eastern DRC. South Africa commends His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the President of Angola, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, for his tireless work on the Luanda Process.”

Joyini called on all relevant parties to engage in these processes to agree on a negotiated settlement that ensures peace and stability in the Great Lakes region and Africa.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has echoed calls for Rwandan forces to withdraw from the DRC and halt support for M23 fighters advancing on Goma. – SAnews.gov.za