Violence continues to rage in the Rutshuru region, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Sunday, August 6, clashes broke out between M23 rebels and self-defense groups in the village of Marangara, resulting in the death of eleven people and many injured.
According to local sources, the M23 rebels deliberately attacked the self-defense groups before attacking innocent civilian populations. This attack took place early in the morning, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
The Vision for the Victory of the People, a citizen movement, condemned these acts of violence perpetrated by the M23. In a statement, the movement emphasizes that the victims are civilians who have no connection with the ongoing hostilities. He also denounces the lack of intervention by regional forces deployed in the region to put an end to this violence.
Residents of the region reported detonations from heavy weapons in the Bishingiro\Tongo area, raising fears of an escalation of clashes.
This ongoing tragedy in the Rutshuru region is yet another reminder of the instability in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Civilians find themselves trapped between armed groups and suffer the consequences of these conflicts.
It is essential that the international community and the Congolese authorities take urgent measures to protect civilian populations and put an end to this violence. The prompt response of regional forces and their support for self-defense groups are crucial to restoring peace and security in the Rutshuru region.
The tragic events in Marangara are a sad reflection of a reality that persists in many places in the world where civilians are the first victims of armed clashes. We must not remain indifferent to this suffering and we must support all efforts to end these cycles of violence.