### Kalehe: a playground for war titans
In the heart of South Kivu, where the rivers whisper with stories of suffering and resistance, a new chapter of violence is written in Kalehe. Twelve agglomerations, born from the intertwined destinies of their inhabitants, go under the control of the Wazalendo, an armed group which, like a snake, seems to bite where the wounds are still alive. Generals Bahigi Maguru, Kirikicho Marimba and Haguma Mic Mic Micro have self-proclaimed heads of this revolt, but behind their titles hide more obscure ambitions. The question that arises is: who really pulls the strings in this macabre dance where civilians are the first victims?
** The illusion of military progress **
The stories of the inhabitants resonate like an echo in the valleys: the Wazalendo, animated by a thirst for revenge, quickly dominated the ground, taking control of cities like Lemera and Lumbishi. This seems to be a turning point, a glimmer of hope in the face of the threat of the M23. However, beyond this apparent victory, we wonder if we do not sink into a new illusion of military expertise when the history of this region reminds us that roles can quickly be reversed.
The victorious today can be the losers of tomorrow, and vice versa. The militarization of politics in Kalehe, as in other angles of the country, arouses questions. His Majesty Chaos is back, and with it, the fragility of a system already used with rope. Domino’s game seems to be accelerating, but what is the price of this instability?
** The heavy silence of local actors **
While the bullets would whistle above the heads, the voices of civil society, formerly vibrant and active, seem strangely dumb. For what ? Can they be paralyzed by fear? Or, more surreptitiously, by a search for legitimacy which pushes them to support one or the other armed group in the hope of support for their cause? The disillusionment that accompanies the struggle for a better future is wreaking havoc, and it is at the heart of this silence that the real tragedy nestles. When do you choose to be silent to prevent bloody ballets from intensifying in a din of personal ambitions?
This period of tensions and balance of power between the administrative and the soldier coincides with the appointment of new officials, an irony. How to hope to build effective governance when the fundamentals of peace are absent? The appointment of a new administrator, his assistant, and the City Head of Minova seems more a set of musical chairs than a real administrative turning point. The pieces move, but the melody remains unrecognizable.
** An uncertain future and historical echoes **
While clashes continue, it is poignant to think about the inheritance of violence constantly started again. The earth struggles, resources and domination are not new in South Kivu, they are part of a story which, unfortunately, is repeated. We find there the injuries left by past conflicts, by unaccompanied promises and broken expectations. These power dynamics, both visible and discreet, recall that the fight for survival in these lands has become a lifestyle, a continuous tragedy.
Thus, the question arises: how to get out of this infernal cycle? Will the Wazalendo bring a new era of prosperity, or are they only another chapter in a story of desolation? The inhabitants of Kalehe, in the meantime, cling to their daily lives, an unstable life made of uncertainties, hoping for a change which could, perhaps, eclipse this dark reality one day.
You will understand, while the shadow of violence hangs over the province, Kalehe is more than a simple battlefield. It is a mirror of our collective failures and a call for action for those who aspire to see a lasting peace, far from the songs of war and the cries of despair. One thing is certain: in Kalehe, resistance continues. But at what price?