A South African soldier serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died on Monday after a hand grenade exploded near his sleeping quarters, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) reported.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and a board of inquiry, including UN officials, will investigate the incident, which occurred in Beni, according to a statement from SANDF released late on Tuesday.
South African soldiers are stationed in Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO, as well as a separate mission by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assist the Congolese government in combating rebel groups.
This recent incident brings the number of South African military fatalities in Congo to at least seven since February. Last month, two soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on an SANDF base in Sake, eastern Congo. In May, another soldier died in combat with Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. In April, one soldier passed away following treatment for unspecified health issues, and two more were killed in a mortar attack in February.
In response to the February deaths, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa refuted opposition claims that the troops in Congo were inadequately equipped.
The UN peacekeeping force is currently withdrawing from Congo in phases. The first phase was completed last month, but no timeline has been set for the next stage amid ongoing clashes in the troubled eastern region.
