**The tragedy of displaced people in Bulengo: Urgency of reinforced security**
The night of Sunday, October 20 will remain etched in the memory of the inhabitants of Bulengo, on the western outskirts of the city of Goma. A couple of displaced people, living in the Bulengo camp, were brutally shot dead, leaving behind a baby barely one year old. This sinister news resonates like a cry of alarm on the critical situation in which displaced populations find themselves in the Democratic Republic of Congo, prey to chronic insecurity.
Local testimonies point to the presence of Wazalendo militiamen among the displaced people, accused of being the perpetrators of this double murder. This unheard-of violence indicates a heartbreaking reality: men and women already scarred by the horrors of war, forced to live in constant fear of losing their lives. The words of Jules Ngeleza, president of the youth of the commune of Goma, resonate deeply: “It is unacceptable that these men, already wounded by war, live in such insecurity.”
The insidious presence of armed militiamen among the displaced, initially engaged in the fight against the M23 rebels, has led to a vicious spiral of violent incidents within the camps. Broken lives, families torn apart, children left to their fate. These tragedies are part of a series of tragedies that are shaking the internally displaced in Goma and the surrounding area, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen security in these vulnerable areas.
How can we accept the idea that civilians seeking refuge and protection are subjected to acts of unspeakable barbarity, in the very camps that are supposed to protect them? The insecurity that reigns at the heart of these humanitarian spaces reveals a major dysfunction in the management of the displaced persons crisis in the DRC. It is imperative that the relevant authorities take urgent measures to ensure the safety of the displaced populations, innocent victims of an ongoing conflict.
In memory of those who lost their lives in Bulengo, in solidarity with all those living in fear and uncertainty, it is our duty to make their voices heard, to demand justice and protection for the most vulnerable. The time has come to act with determination, to prioritize the safety of the displaced, to restore dignity and hope where terror and despair reign. The fate of the displaced cannot be sealed by violence, but must be shaped by solidarity, compassion and the will to build a future of peace and security for all.