On Monday, November 25, a tragedy struck in Kilimanyoka, on the Kibumba axis in the north of Nyiragongo territory, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three lives were abruptly cut short in a road accident involving a military vehicle of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
The circumstances of this incident are still unclear, but testimonies from local civil society shed some light on this tragedy. According to these sources, a military jeep-type vehicle traveling at excessive speed hit a motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction head-on. The three passengers on the motorcycle, including the driver and two passengers, died instantly.
The brutality of the collision deeply shook the local community, plunging the victims’ relatives into an abyss of grief and dismay. The bodies of the deceased were solemnly taken to the mortuary, marking the beginning of a painful grieving process for their families.
This tragic incident raises questions regarding road safety in the area, as well as the observance of the highway code by all road users, including the military forces. The need for increased awareness and training of drivers, especially those operating military vehicles, on good driving practices and caution on the roads is more urgent than ever.
At this painful time, the local community stands united in mourning and compassion for the bereaved families. It is imperative that measures are taken to prevent such tragedies in the future, as every life lost in avoidable circumstances is an unacceptable tragedy.
The Kilimanyoka Road, once a simple dirt road, is now marked by this sad event, leaving behind hearts broken by the sudden and unjust loss of three of its members. May the lessons learned from this tragedy be used to promote road safety and prevent future accidents that could claim other innocent lives.