DRC says it is 'indebted' to SA for sacrifices made by SANDF troops during peacekeeping mission

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has paid homage to the South African troops who died during a peacekeeping mission to the central African country.

Since late last year, the eastern part of the DRC has been in a deadly territorial conflict with the Rwanda-backed rebel militia group, M23.

DRC’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayiwamba, was in Pretoria on Thursday for a bilateral meeting with her South African counterparts.

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So far, 14 South African soldiers have died in the conflict between the DRC government and M23.

The deaths led to calls from a number of political parties and organisations to immediately withdraw the remaining soldiers from the DRC.

Kayiwamba said that the sacrifices made by the South African soldiers would not be in vain.

"We will forever be indebted to South Africa for its solidarity for the sacrifices of its noble men and women. I want this to be clearly said and reiterated, this is a debt that will go beyond generations and this is a debt that will forge our ties together, forever."

While the process of withdrawing South African troops from Goma is expected to begin soon, Pretoria has reaffirmed its support for the DRC government in its continued fight against M23.