Disturbing disappearance of Imam Paluku Sadala Yusufu in Halungupa
In a village in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the head of the mosque, Imam Paluku Sadala Yusufu, has been missing since July 30, 2023. This news has been confirmed by Congolese civil society in the Ruwenzori sector.
According to the information gathered, the imam was taken hostage by unidentified individuals while he was in his field located in the locality of Kilya, about twenty kilometers east of the city of Beni . His family and relatives searched for him, in vain. The only trace found at the scene of his disappearance is his voter’s card abandoned on the spot.
The news is causing deep concern in the local community. Congolese civil society in the Ruwenzori sector is appealing to the military authorities to find Imam Paluku Sadala Yusufu safe and sound. They also call for the mobilization of the population to provide any information likely to advance the investigation.
The disappearance of this Muslim prelate raises many questions about security in the Beni region, already marked by violence and armed conflict. The inhabitants ask the Congolese and Ugandan armed forces to take urgent measures to find the imam and guarantee the safety of the population.
Congolese civil society in the Ruwenzori sector promises to closely follow the evolution of this case and to do everything possible to find Imam Paluku Sadala Yusufu. Let’s hope this situation resolves quickly and peace returns to the region