The Territory of Beni, located in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a region hit by numerous attacks by ADF rebels. According to local civil society, more than a hundred people have been killed since the beginning of August in this area.
Richard Kirimba, first vice-president of civil society in Beni, strongly denounced this situation in a statement. He pointed out that the attacks were concentrated in the villages of Mabuo, Mbingi, Moliso, Makwanga and on the Eringeti-Kainama axis. Kirimba expresses his concern about the fate of the civilian populations in this region, affirming that the Beni-Mbau sector seems to have been abandoned and handed over to the militiamen.
Faced with this critical situation, he calls for the expansion of joint operations carried out by the UPDF (Ugandan Army) and the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) to restore State authority in the region. Kirimba stresses the urgency of serious measures to counter the attacks of the ADF, which are spilling the blood of the population without reaction from the authorities.
However, the spokesperson for Sokola 1 operations, Captain Anthony Mwalushayi, assures that the FARDC continue their operations against the ADF rebels in the territory of Beni. According to him, the success of military operations depends on cooperation between the army and the local population. He stresses the importance of the involvement of citizens in the fight against the rebels for the success of the operations.
This alarming situation in Beni, with numerous civilian casualties, underlines the urgency of strengthening security in this region. Attacks by ADF rebels continue to sow terror and despair among local populations. It is essential that the authorities take concrete and effective measures to put an end to this violence and to protect the civilians affected by these attacks