Title: The case of the carnage of followers of the “Wazalendo” sect in Goma: a new twist with the request for the appearance of the governor of North Kivu
Introduction :
The case of the alleged carnage of followers of the “Wazalendo” sect in Goma continues to attract attention and make people talk about it. During the hearing which took place on Thursday September 21, the defendant Colonel Mike Mikombe and the civil party unanimously requested the appearance of the governor of North Kivu, General Constant Dima Kongbwa, as well as other officers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). This request aims to clarify the gray areas and determine the responsibilities of each officer in this tragic event.
The key role of the governor and the irrevocable evidence presented by Colonel Mikombe:
Colonel Mike Mikombe, the main accused in this case, claims to have “irrevocable evidence” which implicates Governor Constant Dima Kongbwa as the authorizer of the operational order which led to the alleged carnage. As a graduate in defense strategies and brigade commander of the Republican Guard, Colonel Mikombe is convinced of the governor’s responsibility in this operation. He insists on the necessity of his appearance before the court so that he can explain his share of responsibility in the operation and in the tragic events which followed.
The “Wazalendo” sect: unarmed civilians according to the civil party:
The civil party argues that the “Wazalendo” sect is a Non-Profit Association (ASBL) composed of unarmed civilians, thus contradicting the spirit of the operational order which qualified them as a supplementary force of the M23. According to her, hearing the military governor and his spokesperson would clarify the responsibilities of each unit in this operation and shed light on the true nature of the sect’s followers.
Behind closed doors for the projection of images:
During the same hearing, the court decreed a closed session in order to proceed with the projection of images illustrating the scenes of violence on the day of the tragedy. This step is essential to better understand the events and to allow judges to have a complete visualization of what happened.
Conclusion :
The case of the carnage of followers of the “Wazalendo” sect in Goma has experienced a new twist with the request for the appearance of the governor of North Kivu. The evidence presented by Colonel Mikombe and the need to establish the responsibilities of each officer in this tragedy are crucial elements that will have to be taken into account during the trial. The governor’s appearance would shed light on this matter and provide justice to the victims. It now remains to be seen how the military court will handle this request and whether this will have an impact on the progress of the trial.