The recent bombing of the Lushagala displaced persons site in Goma, attributed to the M23 rebels, has once again plunged the region into horror and indignation. This cowardly and barbaric attack cost the lives of eight innocent people and left several others injured, sparking a strong reaction from the government and local stakeholders.
Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya strongly condemned the act as a war crime and stressed the need to document these crimes to ensure justice is served. For her part, Prime Minister Judith Sumimwa Tuluka expressed her indignation and solidarity with the families of the victims, emphasizing that such terrorist acts are inhumane and intolerable.
This attack once again highlights the fragility of the security situation in the North Kivu region. The inhabitants, already tested by the horrors of war and forced displacement, find themselves once again targeted in indiscriminate violence.
Local authorities, such as Jean-Paul Lumbulumbu and John Banyene, have called for concrete measures to protect the civilian population and the displaced. They called for the relocation of IDP sites to secure areas, warning of the growing risk of attacks in these vulnerable areas.
It is imperative that the government, humanitarian organizations and the international community join forces to guarantee the security of civilian populations and put an end to this recurring violence. The protection of civilians must be an absolute priority, and concrete actions must be taken to prevent new tragedies like the one that affected the Lushagala displaced person site in Goma.
Ultimately, peace and security in the North Kivu region can only be achieved through strong commitment and close cooperation between all parties involved. It is time to act decisively to put an end to the spiral of violence that threatens the lives and dignity of the region’s inhabitants.