In the Bapere area of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, terror has taken hold. The villages of Robinet, Kodjo, Makele and others have been the scene of several deadly attacks by ADF rebels, killing at least twenty-one civilians in the space of a week. This unprecedented violence has forced many families to flee their homes to seek refuge in other areas, leaving behind devastated villages and shattered lives.
The situation described by local civil society is alarming. Testimonies describe scenes of horror, burned houses, looted property, and above all innocent lives caught in an endless cycle of violence. Displaced people, mainly women, children and the elderly, have gathered in Mangurejipa, desperately seeking a place to find some semblance of safety.
Samuel Kakule Kagheni, local civil society president and human rights defender, makes a poignant appeal to the army to intervene urgently and protect civilians in the Bapere sector. He underlines the urgency of the situation, recalling that the population should not be left defenseless in the face of these repeated attacks by ADF rebels.
On the side of the military authorities, Colonel Mak Hazukay speaks to affirm the commitment of the defense and security forces to restore peace and security in the region. He calls for the cooperation of the population to counter the common enemy and allow everyone to return to a semblance of normality in their daily lives.
This dramatic situation in the Bapere sector highlights the persistent challenges faced by many civilians in conflict zones in the DRC. The international community cannot remain indifferent to such atrocities and should support efforts to protect vulnerable populations and put an end to the violence that is tearing apart these already hard-hit communities.