The province of Kwango in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been rocked for more than a week by acts of violence committed by the Mobondo militia. According to the civil society consultation framework, these armed groups forcibly recruited many young people and initiated them into their insurrectionary movement. They force them to drink a cup of human blood to submit them to their control, a terrifying practice reminiscent of the worst abuses of African warlords.
Lucien Lufutu, the president of the civil society consultation framework, warns of the abuses of the Mobondo militia in the villages of Itadi, Ikiala, Mulanda, Ibandangoyi, Mukafuna, Imbondi, Fwamakalongo and Ipiedi, where they terrorize the civilian population without any intervention by law enforcement. This situation is of concern to civil society, which is calling for the intervention of national authorities to secure the region.
According to the latest reports published, the incursions of this militia in the province have caused the death of 33 people and more than 20,000 displaced persons, including 11 child victims of sexual violence. Faced with this increase in violence in the province of Kwango, the provincial government is returning to Kinshasa to reinforce the numbers of the Congolese national police and the armed forces.
This situation is worrying for peace and stability in the region, and requires rapid intervention to ensure the safety of civilian populations. Concerted measures must be taken to strengthen the security workforce and eradicate this threat to local populations