News: An argument between former romantic partners turns into tragedy in Kisangani.
Last Saturday, a violent argument between former romantic partners tragically escalated in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. According to Tshopo provincial authorities, a member of the Mbole tribe allegedly called on his friends and members of his tribe to attack the family of his former girlfriend and her fiancé, both from different tribes, Lengola and Mbola, and residing in the village of Yalisombo. This dispute quickly grew, affecting the villages of Batiamutengo and Yalisombo.
The consequences of this violent confrontation were tragic: six people lost their lives and eight others were injured. In addition to these human losses, the authorities report fires having ravaged several homes and a massive displacement of populations.
It should be noted that this security incident occurs in an already tense context in Kisangani, particularly in the commune of Lubunga and the peripheral localities of the Ubundu-Opala axis where the conflict between the Mbole and Lengola communities has been raging since last February.
Even before the serious human and material consequences of last Saturday, other events kept the region on alert. Earlier in the day, young people suspected of infiltration were targeted by the population of the Batiamutengo village. The villagers suspected them of being infiltrators, as they were unknown in the locality. Fortunately, law enforcement and security forces intervened to save them and transfer them safely to Kisangani.
This escalation of violence between the Lengola and Mbole communities is worrying and raises fears that the situation could spread to other regions of Tshopo province. According to provincial government figures, more than 500 people have lost their lives and more than 70,000 people have been displaced since the violence began.
It is essential that concrete steps are taken to ease tensions and promote peace in the region. Local authorities, community representatives and human rights organizations must work together to find lasting solutions to this conflict which has already caused too much suffering.
Pending the resolution of this situation, it is essential that the security of the population is ensured and that efforts are made to rebuild the communities affected by this violence. Peace and peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups are essential for the development and harmony of the region.