JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa said Monday that it will contribute forces to a United Nations military mission with an unprecedented mandate to take action against rebel groups in Congo, just over two weeks after 13 South African troops died in a battle with rebels in Central African Republic.

South African troops will join a new “intervention brigade” for Congo that was authorized on March 28 by the U.N. Security Council to help bring peace to the country’s conflict-wracked east. The resolution lets the brigade carry out offensive operations alone or with Congolese soldiers to neutralize and disarm armed groups.