By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed two soldiers were injured in an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.
Suspected M23 rebels fired on a UN helicopter Friday wounding two South African peacekeepers in DR Congo’s volatile east while an explosive device went off in a major city injuring two others.
The head of the UN’s MONUSCO peacekeeping mission Bintou Keita strongly condemned the attack saying such strikes can constitute “a war crime”.
The helicopter was attacked in the Karuba region of the restive Nord Kivu province, the UN said, adding that one of the peacekeepers was seriously injured.
It was able to land in the provincial capital Goma and the injured soldiers were admitted to hospital. The UN Secretary General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric, said the two wounded were South African.
SANDF spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini says the injured personnel are a pilot and a paramedic.
“The pilot and commander of the aircraft suffered gunshot on his finger and Ops Medic on the flight was injured on his chest and he is in a stable condition.
“The rest of the passengers onboard suffered no injuries and the helicopter landed safely in Goma. The Oryx under United Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo was conducting casualty evacuation in Rwindi and was enroute to Goma.”
The names of the injured soldiers have not been released.
After a lull during the December 20 election which returned President Felix Tshisekedi for a second term, fighting has resumed around Goma.
With inputs from AFP.