SANDF soldier killed in DRC hand grenade explosion, cause unclear

In a statement, the SANDF said a hand grenade exploded close to sleeping quarters at a base in Beni. (Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images)

• The SANDF and Monusco have set up an inquiry into now a hand grenade exploded close to sleeping quarters at a base in Beni in the DRC.
• The security situation in North Kivu has relapsed, exposing South Kivu to a likely M23 rebel threat.
• The UN Security Council pleaded for the DRC and Rwanda to stop aiding rebel forces.

An incident on Monday claimed the life of an SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier stationed with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (Monusco) in North Kivu.

In a statement, the SANDF said a hand grenade exploded close to sleeping quarters at a base in Beni.

A board of inquiry comprising SANDF and Monusco officials has been established because it “is not clear what caused the hand grenade to explode”.

The name of the deceased would be released in due course once their family was notified and the remains repatriated, SANDF said in a statement.

In December last year, the East African Community force was replaced by the SADC force (SAMIDRC) with Malawi and Tanzania falling under the command of South Africa.

Monusco is also on a tactical withdrawal from the DRC after President Felix Tshisekedi asked it to leave last year.

It is getting worse

The security situation in North Kivu has relapsed, exposing South Kivu to a likely M23 rebel threat.

On Monday, Bintou Keita, the special representative of the secretary-general and head of Monusco briefed the UN Security Council about the grave situation.

“The rapidly escalating M23 crisis carries the very real risk of provoking a wider regional conflict,” she said. 

SAMIDRC on the ground has suffered numerous casualties, while the government’s military arm, known as the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), is struggling to defend Goma and Sake.

With the situation getting worse, SAMIDRC is expected to have been fully capacitated by the Security Council at the behest of the African Union by early August.

READ | As DRC turns 64, M23 rebels and Rwanda have President Felix Tshisekedi talking about war

This year, Monusco trained 500 FARDC recruits.

But a major concern is that continued fighting could destabilise the Great Lakes region.

“If the fighting persists, there is a risk of regional spillover in the Great Lakes region with devastating consequences,” said Michael Imran Kanu on behalf of Algeria, Guyana, Mozambique and his home country, Sierra Leone.

He singled out M23, Ugandan rebel group the Allied Democratic Forces, remnants of Rwandese genocidaires Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and a grouping of numerous local rebels known by their French name Coopérative pour le développement du Congo as the major players in the conflict.

The Security Council accuses both the DRC and Rwanda of funding rebel forces.