Durban, South Africa, September 17, 2010.
Rwandan and Congolese Mai-Mai rebels have released South African soldiers captured two weeks ago. In the preparation of a major military offensive against rebels in Walikale and Pinga in North-Kivu province of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa Airforce troops operating within the MONUSCO were infiltrated in Kilembe, Pinga region by error. They found themselves surrounded by the Rwandan and Congolese Mai-Mai rebels after they were abandoned two weeks ago by Russian helicopter crews in the jungle of the DRC.
The platoon of more than two dozen South African soldiers was captured by Rwandan and Congolese Mai-Mai rebels. After disarming them, the rebels treated them well, allowing them to contact the MONUSCO headquarters and to eventually arrange for a pick-up. It is in the same area that, a few weeks ago, Mai-Mai and angry mob of Congolese peasants allegedly killed two Indian MONUSCO peacekeepers.
To rescue the South African lost peacekeepers, MONUSCO sent two South African Airforce Oryx helicopters. The rebels returned the weapons ang ammunitions to them before releasing them.
©AfroAmerica Network, 2010
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