During last year's campaign, President Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to keep American troops out of harm's way by avoiding "forever wars."

However, the president may face pressure to break that pledge following a recent incident which claimed 13 lives. 

United Nations peacekeepers killed by Congolese rebel group

According to Voice of America, the 13 deceased individuals were United Nations peacekeepers along with local soldiers serving in eastern Congo.

Their killing came at the hands of M23, a Congolese rebel group which is being supported by the government of neighboring Rwanda.

Voice of America noted how the United Nations Security Council, on which the United States holds a permanent seat, met this past weekend to discuss the escalating violence.

Kate Hixon serves as advocacy director for Africa at Amnesty International U.S., and she argued that M23 is exploiting the recent change in America's presidential administration.

"The Rwandan-backed M23 is clearly exploiting the presidential transition in the U.S. to advance on Goma — putting thousands more civilians at risk," Hixon was quoted as telling the Associated Press.

Uruguay says "measures have been taken to improve the security of our troops"

Voice of America recounted how a Uruguayan soldier was killed on Saturday along with three Malawian military personnel.

The Uruguayan man was identified as Rodolfo Alvarez, who was part of the Uruguay IV Battalion. A statement released by the Uruguayan military explained that IV Battalion is  working "uninterruptedly to comply with the United Nations mandate."

What's more, the unit also seeks "to guarantee the evacuation of non-essential civilian and military personnel from the city of Goma."

"Various measures have been taken to improve the security of our troops, who are operating in adverse conditions," the military's statement continued.

South Africa's defense minister visits Congo as casualties there mount

It further added that four Uruguayan peacekeepers were injured. Of that number, three remained in Goma while the fourth went on to receive medical treatment in Uganda.

Meanwhile, two South African peacekeepers were killed on Friday, with those casualties coming in the wake of seven other South African deaths.

📷: U.N. troops deploy outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jan. 24, 2025, as M23 rebels are reported to close in on the town.https://t.co/mK6WtgfDhQ pic.twitter.com/UaITg0mXgj

— Voice of America (@VOANews) January 24, 2025

Angie Motshekga serves as South Africa's minister of defense, and Voice of America pointed out how she was in Congo last week visiting South African soldiers who are stationed there.