Reports from multiple media outlets have surfaced, claiming that South African soldiers fighting alongside the Congolese government forces in Goma raised a white flag, allegedly signaling the surrender of the M23 Movement.
At the beginning of this week, videos emerged showing South African troops hoisting a white flag. In military conflicts, a white flag traditionally symbolizes surrender, an admission of defeat, or a call for a ceasefire to prevent further hostilities.
Soldiers in combat often use this symbol to indicate their willingness to negotiate peace or disengage from active fighting. However, despite the way the flag raising was interpreted, reports suggested that South African forces had forced the M23 Movement into submission.
In response, the South African military issued a statement on January 28, 2025, clarifying the situation. The statement explained that the white flag was raised as part of a negotiated ceasefire agreement, allowing the M23 Movement to retrieve their dead and wounded from the battlefield.
The statement read:
“The widely discussed footage showing the white flag being raised was the result of negotiations between conflicting parties to facilitate a temporary truce, permitting the M23 Movement to recover their fallen and wounded from our positions. “
Additionally, the South African military emphasized that such actions are common in warfare, ensuring the safe retrieval of casualties while maintaining operational integrity.
