Assassination in Butuhe, North Kivu: a member of civil society shot dead in his home
Violence continues to rage in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a member of civil society was shot dead at his home in Butuhe, Beni territory, North Kivu. Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard, honorary president of the civil society of Butuhe, was assassinated by armed men on the night of Thursday June 1 to Friday June 2.
According to testimonies collected on the spot, the bandits, wearing balaclavas to conceal their identity, lodged a bullet in the leg of the victim, before shooting him another bullet in the chest. According to the president of the civil society of Butuhe, this murder could have been caused by a land dispute, but an investigation has been opened to identify the perpetrators of this crime.
This tragic news adds to the long list of violence perpetrated in eastern DRC, which remains an unstable region despite the end of the M23 rebellion a few years ago. Armed groups continue to operate in the region, leading to massive population displacements and chronic insecurity.
The Congolese government recently launched an operation to disarm armed groups in eastern DRC, but its implementation is made difficult by the lack of means and the resistance of armed groups. The return to peace in this region therefore promises to be difficult, despite the efforts of the government and the international community.