Armed men identified as rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked and killed a dozen civilians in Bakokoma, near Nzenga in the Ruwenzori sector, 5 kilometers from Mutwanga in the territory of Beni, in the Democratic Republic of the congo. The incident happened around 9 p.m. and saw the rebels storm the town before attacking civilians. Witnesses say several people and livestock are still missing.
Despite the Sokola 1 Grand Nord operations carried out by the army, the population of this region remains highly exposed to the violent actions of armed groups whose activity does not seem to be slowing down. However, the spokesperson for these operations, Captain Antony Mualushayi, rejects this allegation of laxity and insists on the continuity of security operations in this part of the country.
The inhabitants of the Beni region continue to suffer violence from armed groups operating in the region, despite the authorities’ efforts to restore security. The indiscriminate attacks carried out by the ADF have already caused hundreds of deaths in the region for several years. The particularly fragile security situation makes it difficult to organize elections and slows down the development process in the region.
It is important that the authorities take more effective measures to stem this spiral of violence which is hampering the economic and social development of the region. The stabilization of the security situation in the territory of Beni is an essential prerequisite for the holding of credible elections and the promotion of peace in this part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.