In the troubled region of North Kivu, recent tragic events have plunged residents into fear and uncertainty. Attacks by ADF rebels have spread terror in the villages of Robinet, Kodjo, and Makele, leaving a heavy toll of lost lives and displaced families.
The harrowing accounts of survivors and witnesses speak of unheard-of brutality, of houses burned, property looted, and lives mercilessly taken. The chilling figures of victims testify to the scale of the tragedy, with twenty-one civilians killed in one week in these martyred villages. Testimonies collected on the ground describe a nightmare situation, where insecurity reigns supreme and daily life has become a constant challenge for residents.
Faced with this spiral of violence, local civil society is calling for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities to protect vulnerable populations. The massive displacement of populations to safer areas is a testament to the distress of residents who are desperately seeking refuge and security away from conflict zones.
The villages of Robinet, Kodjo, Ombole, Bandulu, Mabunda, Midede and Makele are silent witnesses to this blind violence that is tearing apart the social and human fabric of the region. Displaced families, mostly women, children and the elderly, are desperately seeking a haven of peace in a context marked by horror and terror.
Calls for the army to ensure the safety of civilians are increasing, while Colonel Mak Hazukay, the army spokesperson, assures that measures are being taken to restore peace and security in the region. The cooperation of the population is also requested to fight against the common enemy and neutralize the armed groups responsible for so much suffering.
In this context of humanitarian crisis and destabilization, it is imperative that all stakeholders proactively engage to end the violence and restore peace in the North Kivu region. Shattered lives, torn apart families, and traumatized communities are eagerly awaiting a better future, where security, dignity, and justice will finally prevail.