On this day of May 13, the Masisi region, in North Kivu, is once again the scene of violent clashes between M23 rebels and local armed groups. The villages of Kataato, Luke, Kabingu and Kwirambo resonate with heavy and light weapons fire, plunging the population into terror and uncertainty.
According to information from the field, the fighting, which began the previous weekend, continues with worrying intensity. The villages of the region are gradually deserted, their inhabitants fleeing to escape the ravages of violence. Donatien Kibuya Kahima, president of the Tembo youth of North Kivu, testifies to the suffering of this uprooted population: “The inhabitants of the Ufamandu 1st group are fleeing their environments. There is the population of Miyano, Kashukano, Burora, Kihundu and Remeka, who are heading towards Walikale and Ziralo (South Kivu, Editor’s note) and others towards Biriko. The children who took the preliminary tests (for the State Exam) are also scattered.”
These dramatic events highlight a terrible reality: the insecurity plaguing this region of North Kivu continues to bloody the territory of Masisi. The M23 forces, supported by armed groups, are gradually advancing towards several villages in the Mufuni, Ufamandu and Buabo groupings, leaving behind a wake of destruction and desolation.
Faced with this critical situation, Donatien Kibuya Kahima’s appeal to the Government to put an end to this spiral of violence cannot be ignored. It is imperative that concrete measures be taken to protect the civilian population and put an end to these deadly clashes.
In conclusion, these recent events are a strong reminder of the need to work for peace and stability in the North Kivu region. The urgency is for action, for the protection of innocent civilian populations trapped in this senseless violence. It is time to end this human tragedy and build a safer and more peaceful future for all people in the region.