The two soldiers, Simon Mkhulu Bobe and Irven Semono, both members of the South African contingent, were killed by a mortar bomb at their base on the last 14th of February, in Sake, about 27 Km from Goma, in the territory of Masisi. They were deployed in North Kivu to secure this part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), beset by M23 rebels and the Rwandan army. And this, as part of the SADC mission.
Three other soldiers were seriously injured in this bombardment, according to a statement from the South African Ministry of Defence. The military governor of North Kivu, Major General Peter Cirimwami, paid tribute to the memory of these brave soldiers who fell in the line of duty, weapons in hand. On behalf of the entire population of his jurisdiction, he extended condolences to the SADC, the South African contingent, and the families of the victims.
"I strongly condemn this heinous act and reaffirm my commitment to collaborate with both national and international institutions to ensure that these terrorists are definitively incapacitated in the North Kivu province," he stated.
This tribute ceremony took place before the repatriation of the bodies to their home country, South Africa.
Gisèle Mbuyi