TERROR ATTACKS BY ALLIED DEMOCRATIC FORCES (ADF) MILITIAS

At least ten (10) people died in a new attack blamed on the militias of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the sector of Beni-Mbau, on road n ° 4 which leads to Kisangani, the night from Sunday to Monday, September 21, 2020. The militias also took several other civilians hostage. They operated particularly in Kitoho and Vuppiri.

The still provisional assessment made by the administrator of the territory of Beni, Donat Kibwana, however, claims 10 civilians killed. They are, according to him, 6 men and 4 women.

“We are worried, on Monday the militias have raided this part after deviating from the positions of FARDC forces. They killed our civilians with guns and machetes and took several others hostage, including the head of the village, ”he added.

The information was also confirmed by the local civil society which, for its part, claimed up a toll of 11 dead during the militia incursion.

“There are 11 people killed including 10 civilians, several others missing. 4 houses burned down and several pets taken,” said Esdras Mathe, president of the youth in the Beni-Mbau sector.

A survivor of the ADF terrorism further explained that the attackers were made up of men, women and children. He claimed to have seen his parents slaughtered by the militias.

“It is thanks to God that I saved myself from the hands of the militias. They killed all the people they had just taken hostage in our plot where they set fire to 4 houses with all the goods that were there” , he said.

However, other sources approached on the spot said they saw militias a few meters from the scene of the crime in the early hours of Monday preparing food in a valley near Vupiri.

It should also be noted that in the face of these new killings, all socio-economic activities are paralysed in the Beni-Mbau sector. On site, some residents are heading to other supposedly secure entities.

Meanwhile,the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo have regained control of Minembwe in Fizi territory. This after the clashes between loyalist forces and the armed group of the military deserter Makanika and his allies since September 1, 2020.

The confirmation is from the army spokesman in this part of South Kivu, Captain Dieudonné Kasereka in an interview with the media.

Captain Dieudonné Kasereka says the Makanika armed group and its allies attacked army positions in Kalingi and Kilindu villages. Dieudonné Kasereka calls on these rebels to lay down their arms and on the population to collaborate with the army.

The army spokesman said the results of these clashes will be communicated shortly.

Meanwhile, presidential security delegate Tommy Tambwe, who has just come from a mission in this part of the province, points out that the security problems in Minembwe are due to political manipulation.

He informs that the recent attacks against the FARDC positions have caused loss of human life.

Tommy Tambwe calls on all communities in South Kivu for peaceful coexistence in order to restore peace in eastern DRC.

More than three villages were emptied of their inhabitants fleeing the clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo FARDC and the armed group of colonel defector Makanika and his allies.

The clarification is from the administrator of the territory of Fizi, Kawaya Mutipula Aimé in an interview with civil society.

He said that for the moment it is difficult to give the total number of displaced people and even less the places where they went for security reasons.

The administrator of Fizi, Kawaya Mutipula Aimé nonetheless informs us that they are going through a difficult humanitarian situation where urgent intervention by the authorities and international organisations is essential.

Kawaya Mutipula Aimé calls on the population to strengthen collaboration with the FARDC and not to join the armed groups that are trying to cause insecurity in this part of South Kivu.

Also, a Mai-Mai of Kibukila Mutetezi miltia was killed and 2 civilians wounded on Sunday in an exchange of fire between loyalist forces and the Mai-Mai Kibukila in the Mikenge market in Mwenga territory.

According to Captain Dieudonné Kasereka, these Mayi-Mayi elements had infiltrated this market and were beginning to threaten some people.

He also indicated two coupeurs de route were killed that same Sunday in Kashanga village south of central Fizi.

Kasereka confirmed that, forces of the 3307th regiment also managed to recover the weapons of these coupeurs de route.

A Mai Mai element “Kibukila Mutetezi” was neutralised at the Mikenge Market by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo FARDC.

The latter had infiltrated the population and began to threaten some people who went to the Market.

In the exchanges of fire between the FARDC and this Mayi-Mayi, two civilians were also injured, according to the spokesperson for the South South Kivu operational sector, Captain Dieudonné Kasereka.

Meanwhile, two coupeurs de route were neutralized that same Sunday in Kashanga village south of central Fizi, they were ambushed by forces of the 3307th regiment and their weapon was recovered by the FARDC.

Several fighters from different armed groups are currently roaming the forests.

After having failed in many of the attacks they carried out against FARDC positions and against the population in several localities of Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga.

The population has been asked to denounce these elements of the armed groups which are said to be hiding among them.

Quoted by its spokesperson, the operational sector command sukola2 south kivu continues to remind all these armed groups to lay down their arms and surrender in accordance with the call of the head of state and supreme commander, adds Dieudonné Kasereka.

Later on, a visibly intoxicated policeman opened fire on the population around 2 p.m. in the center of Kashara, Mpene Groupement in Idjwi territory in South Kivu.

According to the testimony of a civil society activist from Idjwi, Albert Cinyabuguma, the incident resulted in the death of a soldier of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and another policeman.

The same source claims that the police officer responsible for the double assassination, suspected the soldier of being in a relationship with his wife.

“… The executioner suspected the soldier of having a shady relationship with his wife. He started by shooting this soldier before shooting his companion. Both died on the spot. Unfortunately the executioner fled but the investigations are continuing… ”said Albert Cinyabuguma.

He nevertheless added that the police officer responsible for this act allegedly committed his crime while intoxicated because the house in which they were housed contained bottles of strong alcoholic drinks.

A member of the Idjwi Journalists Association for Peace and Human Rights, Abert Cinyabuguma regrets that the military and police have become accustomed to walking around drinking while armed with weapons.

Joram Jojo