Beni – Violent demonstrations erupted in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday in protest against the government’s handling of insecurity, after a rebel attack killed at least 11 people at the weekend.
The Allied Democratic Forces one of several armed groups in the central African nation’s troubled east killed 11 people and kidnapped two in Masambo village in North Kivu province on Sunday evening, according to local chief Winye Wa Benga.
Gilbert Kambale, an official from a human rights NGO, said the death toll had risen to 15.
#DRC #Rutshuru The situation remained confused all day this Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in the city of #Bunagana after the attack by rebels #M23. Clashes lasted several hours in the city causing other thousands to flee to neighboring #Uganda. pic.twitter.com/3xMW9ziCzf
— Baraka MUNYAMPFURA Héritier (@HeritierBarak) March 29, 2022
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Pressure groups and citizens’ movements in the nearby city of Beni called for days of silent strikes from Monday to protest ongoing insecurity and the jailing of activists who had previously demonstrated against the local state of siege.
Beni police arrested 11 protesting youths early on Monday after they destroyed public lighting equipment, spokesperson Nasson Murara said.
The situation had returned to normal by late morning, according to an AFP correspondent.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi last year imposed a state of siege in the two eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu in a bid to stem killings by rebel groups.
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The measure replaced the civilian administration with military and police authorities, but critics say it has been ineffective.
Wa Benga said the ADF rebels attacked with bladed weapons, looted goods and burned houses, with survivors reporting that the attackers asked for villagers’ names and released them if they were Muslim.
Masambo’s village chief said reinforcements from the Congolese and Ugandan armies arrived after the attack, but Kambale said people remained “worried” because the soldiers do not pursue the assailants.
The so-called Islamic State group has claimed the ADF as their offshoot in central Africa. The group has been accused of committing atrocities in eastern DR Congo and in neighbouring Uganda.
An unprecedented joint operation between the Congolese and Ugandan armies began last November to smoke out ADF fighters.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Pexels
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