United Nations secretary-general António Guterres says fighting raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu region threatens to push the entire region over the precipice.

He was speaking at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa at the weekend.

“Regional escalation must be avoided at all costs,” Guterres said.

“There is no military solution. The deadlock must end – the dialogue must begin. And the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected.”

The remains of the 14 SANDF soldiers who were killed in fighting in the eastern DRC late last month were handed over to their families on Thursday evening.

The troops lost their lives at the hands of the M23 as fighting in the Goma region of DRC’s North Kivu province escalated, leading to the capture of Sake and Goma.

Guterres said conclusions of the recent joint East African Community (EAC)-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit offered a way forward – namely, a path towards a ceasefire, and new momentum for regional efforts based on the Luanda and Nairobi processes.

“Now is the time for swift implementation,” Guterres said. “And you can count on the continued support of the United Nations, including Monusco (UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC.”

AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said Africa is suffering from the excesses and fragmentations reflected in proxy conflicts, barely veiled support from external powers for the warring parties on the continent, the expansion of terrorism and violent extremism and the continuation of the devastating war in Sudan and eastern DRC.

A memorial service was held for the 14 SANDF soldiers at the Castle of Good Hope, in Cape Town, on Friday.

The memorial was arranged by Kimberleigh Alkilani through her non-profit organisation Donateum.

“I want our soldiers to know that despite everything they face, we appreciate our soldiers risking their lives to protect our country,” she said.

“The loss of our 14 soldiers in the DRC has shattered the hearts of millions in our nation. To the families who have lost a son, a husband, a father, and a brother – we are so sorry.

“I thank the Good Hope Castle for allowing me to honour our 14 SANDF soldiers with a commemoration on their grounds.”

Pastor Mark Le Fleur led those attending the memorial in prayer.

“It is so easy to dissociate yourself from these realities and we can easily say no, it is not someone that we know or your family,” he said.

“But here is a common bond, these are our fallen soldiers, 14 of them, with the intention of maintaining peace in a war-torn region, and they paid the ultimate price.

“Beyond all the issues in the newspapers and television, there are families, there is a mom and a dad, there is a child, a son and a daughter that is missing daddy. And daddy is never going to come home.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, handed over the remains of soldiers to the families at a service at the Air Force Base in Swartkop, Pretoria, on Thursday.

He paid his respects to the families along with Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga and Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya.

THE MERCURY