Assassination of a civil society leader in the province of Beni in the DRC: one more step towards the end of insecurity in the region?
On the night of Thursday to Friday June 2, Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard, former president of civil society in Butuhe, a town located in North Kivu, was assassinated by armed men. According to several sources, the criminals were in balaclavas to conceal their identity. They fired one bullet in the leg and another in the chest of the victim. The former president of civil society unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
Civil society in Butuhe demands that the perpetrators of this crime be arrested and brought to justice. However, some inhabitants of the region evoke a land dispute at the origin of the assassination. Many acts of violence and crime have been perpetrated in the Beni region for several years, which has led to a feeling of insecurity and injustice among the local populations.
Security in the Beni region is a major challenge for the Congolese authorities. Armed groups, including the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces), operate in the region and perpetuate attacks against civilians, often violently. However, progress has been made in recent months, notably with the establishment of the UN Intervention Brigade in 2013, which has contributed to the neutralization of certain armed groups.
The Congolese government must continue to work on restoring peace and security in the Beni region. It is important that the perpetrators of this crime be quickly identified and brought to justice. Civil society and the inhabitants of the region need to feel safe in order to be able to live and work peacefully