Belgian soldiers who have gone to assist the military of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the armed groups of Wazalendo and FDLR in fighting the M23 group in the eastern Congo, with eight of them having lost their lives there.
The Great Lakes Eye news outlet, one of the first to confirm reports that Belgium sent its soldiers to the DRC to combat M23, has again reported that up to eight of those soldiers have died in the clashes with the M23 group.
It states that among the deceased is a Sergeant named Jimmy Luis Flander, who was killed while operating a drone during an attack against the M23 group. It explains that the vehicle he was in while using the drone was destroyed in that attack, and that two Belgian drones were also shot down by the M23 group.
The first report provided by this media outlet stated that Belgium sent approximately 300 commandos to train Congolese forces in Kisangani and Kinshasa, along with another 400 soldiers to confront the M23 group, collaborating with the Congolese government troops and armed groups such as Wazalendo, FDLR, and Burundian forces.
Similarly, Belgium, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prevot, denied these claims, stating that no troops from his country have been sent to the DRC.
However, he mentioned that Belgium has only 6 soldiers in Kindu in the Manyema province, stating that they were sent there as part of European support.
He emphasized that his country does not participate in any military operations in the DRC.
Meanwhile, in the month of March, several military planes from Belgium headed to Kinshasa and Bujumbura. Some of these planes were reportedly carrying military equipment, while others were said to be transporting soldiers.