New DRC casualty figures

The Zimbabwe authorities announced at the weekend that 26 soldiers have been killed since the country’s military intervention in August in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Acting Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi said at a press conference that 33 soldiers had been wounded, 17 captured and five reported missing in action. Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola and Chad intervened in support of DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila. Sekeramayi said that 2,020 rebels had been killed and a further 1,000 captured. He gave no further details. “I must emphasize that it is our policy to make available to the people of Zimbabwe details of our casualties,” he said insisting that Zimbabwe was not playing down its losses. “We have nothing to hide and have managed to bring the bodies of our fallen heroes for decent burial.” Although the Zimbabwe government has come under criticism at home for the expense in sending at least 6,000 men, armour and aircraft to DRC, he said there was now a “better appreciation of the importance of upholding the territorial integrity of the Southern African Development Community states, including the DRC”.