The remains of 14 South African soldiers who died in clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are still in Uganda but are expected to be repatriated on February 12, 2025.
The fallen soldiers, who had served under the Southern African Development Community Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), lost their lives in combat against the M23 armed group in the cities of Sake and Goma.
After being stored for days at a military facility in Goma, their bodies were transferred from the DRC on February 7, 2025. The United Nations facilitated their transportation through Rwanda via the Rubavu-Musanze-Cyanika route before arriving in Uganda.
Upon arrival in Uganda, the bodies were taken to the mortuary at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, where forensic examinations were conducted to confirm the cause of death. According to South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalist Michael Baleke, the remains have since been moved from Mulago Hospital to Entebbe International Airport in Kampala in preparation for repatriation.
Baleke reported that the remains of the 14 South African soldiers are being transported alongside those of two Tanzanian and two Malawian soldiers who also perished in the same clashes. As a result, the aircraft carrying the bodies will first make stops in Tanzania and Malawi to deliver the remains of their respective soldiers before proceeding to Pretoria, South Africa.
Following its final stop in Pretoria, the remains will be received at the South African Air Force base, with arrival scheduled for the afternoon of February 12, 2025.
Meanwhile, thousands of South African troops remain stationed at their base in Goma under the protection of M23 fighters. The rebel group has urged the South African forces to withdraw, advising them to avoid further involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC.
