Fatshimetrie: Escalation of deadly violence in the Malemba-Nkulu region
In recent months, the terror of Mai-Mai militias has been raging in the remote region of Malemba-Nkulu, located in the Haut-Lomami province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The figures are alarming: nine people have died in atrocious circumstances, victims of the atrocities perpetrated by these ruthless insurrectional groups. Among the victims, innocent civilians, but also two army and police officers, demonstrate the scale of these barbaric acts.
According to local authorities, the persistent presence of the Mai-Mai in the region is unbearable. Recent tragic events highlight the urgency of effective action to put an end to this spiral of unacceptable violence. In November 2024, an army lieutenant and a police commander were coldly shot dead, testifying to the determination of these militias to sow terror. The story of atrocities continues with the murder of two civilians, Mr. Kyungu and Mrs. Rose, in the peaceful Shabukwa quarry, in the Museka chiefdom.
The month of December did not spare Malemba-Nkulu from the cruelty of the Mai-Mai, who mercilessly decimated a couple. Worse still, a major of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and a lieutenant were assassinated and then burned, revealing the unspeakable barbarity of these armed gangs. The figures are relentless: nine lives sacrificed in the name of the murderous madness of an unscrupulous insurrection.
The situation in Malemba-Nkulu is all the more worrying because the Mai-Mai are responsible for numerous population displacements and a climate of permanent insecurity. Nestled in the heart of Haut-Lomami, this remote region has for years suffered repeated attacks by these armed groups, leaving behind a trail of destruction and desolation. Analysts agree that the Mai-Mai are a self-defense movement that, through its blind violence, threatens the lives and security of thousands of inhabitants of this isolated region.
Malemba-Nkulu, despite its remote geographical location, must not be abandoned to its sad fate. The escalation of violence in this region requires a firm and concerted response, both from local authorities and from national and international bodies. It is imperative to put an end to this spiral of terror, to protect innocent civilians and to restore order and security to allow Malemba-Nkulu to regain the peace and serenity that were cruelly taken from it.
In these dark times when human life is so often flouted, it is urgent to make the voice of reason, justice and compassion heard. Malemba-Nkulu, a land scarred by human violence, deserves to be offered a better future, free from the threat of the Mai-Mai and resolutely turned towards reconstruction and reconciliation.. The time has come to act, to not look away from the unspeakable. The destiny of Malemba-Nkulu is in our hands, and peace is the most precious of treasures that it is up to us to protect and preserve at all costs.