Title: Assassination of Kakule Mbalikiriri: a heinous crime that raises questions
On the night of Thursday to Friday June 2, armed men killed Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard at his home in Butuhe, in the territory of Beni, North Kivu. According to testimonies from civil society in Butuhe, the assassins were carrying firearms and wearing balaclavas to conceal their identification.
The aftermath of the attack that caused Kakule’s death gave way to a series of questions. If the president of the civil society of Butuhe demanded the opening of investigations so that the perpetrators of this crime are identified and held accountable for their act, other sources in the region have mentioned a land conflict.
It is important to emphasize that the victim was the honorary president of the civil society of Butuhe and that his disappearance leaves a great void. The attack also created a climate of insecurity among residents of the Beni region.
North Kivu is known to be an unstable region due to the various armed forces operating there. The assassination of Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard therefore raises questions about the responsibility of the authorities to combat insecurity and punish the perpetrators of criminal acts.
In any case, this heinous act must challenge the authorities and civil society in order to work to improve security in the Beni region and to fight against the impunity that fuels violence.