On the night of Monday 2 to Tuesday 3 December, an act of unprecedented violence shook the peaceful town of Bunia, in Ituri. The director of the community radio station “Fatshimetrie” was the target of a brutal attack perpetrated by individuals armed with machetes. The attack left deep physical and psychological scars, both for the victim and his family.
The director’s terrifying account describes a nighttime intrusion, marked by the deliberate destruction of external light sources in order to operate in the dark. The assailants, determined and unscrupulous, forced entry into the house and committed unbearable acts of violence. The director’s children were tortured, while he was savagely attacked with a machete, sustaining injuries to the head and arm.
Faced with the scale of the violence and barbarity of this attack, the community of Bunia is deeply shocked and outraged. The security of the residents, hitherto precarious, is now in question. Colonel Abeli Mwangu, the local police commander, says investigations are underway to bring the culprits to justice.
This grim case highlights the urgent need to strengthen security measures and actively combat the insecurity that is plaguing the region. The protection of journalists, guarantors of freedom of expression and the right to information, must be an absolute priority.
In these troubled times, where violence and impunity seem to reign supreme, it is imperative that we remain united and united to condemn such despicable acts and work together to build a more just and safer society for all. The light of truth must shine brighter than ever, so that the darkness of fear and violence can never prevail.