On August 6, 2023, tragic clashes erupted in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, between M23 rebels and vigilante groups. According to local media, at least eleven people lost their lives in the violence.
The attacks took place in the village of Marangara, located in Rutshuru territory. The M23 rebels launched an attack against the self-defense groups, before attacking the civilian population, as reported by several local sources. The assaults took place around 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Unfortunately, these deadly incidents were not limited to Marangara. The villages of Maroba and Bishigiro, also located in Rutshuru territory, were attacked by M23 rebels, causing further damage and endangering the lives of residents.
This situation is all the more worrying as the victims of these attacks are civilians with no connection to the hostilities. A civil society movement has denounced this recurring method of the M23, which consists of massacring civilians in the Rutshuru region, without the regional forces deployed in the region intervening to protect them.
These clashes once again bear witness to the difficulties that the Congolese population is facing in the regions affected by the armed groups. It is essential that effective security measures are put in place to protect the lives of civilians and put an end to this recurrent violence.
It is important to emphasize that the situation in the DRC remains complex and requires increased international attention. The search for a lasting solution to ensure peace and security in the region remains a major challenge