Title: Presence of militias in eastern DRC continues to cause concern among residents
In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite the announced departure of the M23 rebels last April, armed militias continue to reign insecurity in the region. The inhabitants of the Masisi area, already affected by the repeated conflicts as well as by the troubles caused by the armed groups, now live in anguish at the visible presence of the militiamen.
The testimonies of the inhabitants are numerous, in particular those of Tsegihumva and his wife, who abandoned their house and their harvest to find refuge in the village of Busihe. They faced looted food and destroyed crops. The perpetrators of these acts are often militiamen or government sources.
According to the association of breeders in North Kivu, more than 10,000 cows were killed or stolen by militiamen in the regions of Masisi and Rutshuru, still partly occupied by M23 rebels.
The civil society rapporteur for Masisi territory, Téléphore Mithondeke, says that since the proliferation of these armed groups, the number of robberies, robberies and looting has exploded in recent months. “We don’t even know who oversees security in this region anymore, which seems bizarre,” he complains, stressing the need to put in place an effective security system to protect the population and natural resources.
Faced with this situation, Human Rights Watch draws attention to the growing presence of militias and armed forces in the Masisi region. While certain armed groups sometimes join forces with the Congolese army to fight against the M23 rebels, the inhabitants of the region are confronted with the regular presence of these armed men and the growing level of insecurity.
In short, despite the announced departure of the M23 rebels, the security situation in eastern DRC remains fragile. The armed militias operating there undermine the stability of the region, place the populations under constant threat and harm the development of the region.