Internet disrupted in DRC to reportedly ‘control’ sharing of videos and voice notes

As families are left wondering about the safety of their loved ones in the DRC it has emerged there were deliberate efforts to contain information from being leaked. 

A source who receives intel from the DRC told TimesLIVE Premium on Thursday that there were issues with internet connectivity and cellphone jamming, which could explain why South Africans were left in the dark about the situation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops.

“I understand that the SANDF has clamped down on the [soldiers] in the DRC releasing videos and voice notes. That is one of the reasons why families may not be in contact.

“Not only because they have cellphone jamming and electricity issues, but the SANDF is reportedly getting upset that stories are coming out, contradicting the official narrative,” the source, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Watchdog body NetBlocks, which monitors cybersecurity and the governance of the internet, confirmed on Tuesday that there was evidence of ongoing disruption of connectivity at the Goma internet exchange after the escalation of violence in the DRC.

Caroline Kordoms, an aunt to one of the soldiers, finally received feedback from her nephew's colleague in Goma. This after she told TimesLIVE Premium on Wednesday that she last spoke to her nephew on Monday, shortly before the SANDF announced that three more soldiers were killed by an M23 mortar bomb. 

In texts seen by TimesLIVE Premium, the colleague had said (translated from Afrikaans): "Both of us are alright. We are at least safe for now. Network is a problem again. It looks like they jammed the signal."

Kordoms asked if they had ammunition and food, and the soldier, whom she wanted to remain anonymous, said: "For now, yes. We just don't know for how long." 

The soldier also revealed that the M23 rebels let them know that the SANDF members were not the target. 

"We are just in the way. So, we must get out of here soon before they change their minds.

"We love you all, and we are praying non stop"

SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini did not respond to queries about their alleged involvement in controlling the distribution of information and videos. 

The SANDF has condemned the circulation of a video on social media which suggested forces had surrendered to the M23, labelling such information as “misleading claims”.

The video was of white flags being raised, which the SANDF said was the outcome of discussions between the opposing fighting forces to agree to a truce. This would allow the M23 to recover their dead and injured members.

On Thursday, however, a series of videos resurfaced from Goma where rockets were fired back at the M23 forces. The second part of the video shows the DRC troops retreating from a defensive position and the footage ends with armed DRC soldiers seen moving inside Goma at night.

While connectivity and internet access are disrupted, an Eastern Cape family learnt about Eddie Cola's death from Facebook. Cola, 42, a father of three from Langkloof, Eastern Cape, had been a member of the SANDF for 21 years.

His uncle, Ronnie Felix, told TimesLIVE Premium they were confused by what they saw on social media as no-one from the SANDF had alerted them to his death.

“Some people posted on Facebook and his mother’s sister told us on Saturday morning to take a look at this Facebook post which said Eddie had passed away. I told them that it could not be, but that I would try to find out if it was true. Later that Saturday, SANDF members went to his mother’s house and broke the news to her,” Felix said.

This shattered his mother who had a close relationship with her son, Felix said.

“She is in a lot of pain. He was very close to his mother. Everything he did was for his mother. All the years that he worked, he worked for his mother and took care of her — and not only his mother, he also gave to others.

“Imagine as a mother, watching your child leaving for work, knowing he has no illness, only to hear her child has passed on. This is very painful for all of us,” he told TimesLIVE Premium.

After the deaths of three SANDF soldiers on Monday when a mortar bomb aimed at the Goma Airport landed at their base, it is believed the soldiers are surrounded by M23 members with no way out.

According to some family members who last spoke to soldiers on Monday, they had run out of food and were relying on ration packs.

Ration packs, which are used in such situations, include three vacuum-sealed or tinned meals, sachets of tea, coffee, sugar and creamer, a chocolate energy bar, chewing gum, water purification sachets and boxes of matches.

In the meantime, defence expert Darren Olivier said the SANDF forces in the DRC were not equipped to take on the M23 and their Rwandan Defence Force backers alone, nor were other countries in the Sadc Mission in the DRC, Tanzania and Malawi.

“The force has been predominantly set up as a light infantry peace enforcement force. It lacks air support, proper aerial surveillance, medium armour and a host of additional force multiplying systems and technologies that could help it fight more independently,” he said.