The recent attacks perpetrated by M23 rebels in the chiefdom of Bwito, located in the territory of Rutshuru, have once again plunged the population into terror and insecurity. The indiscriminate shooting killed two women in Rushashe IDP camp, with shrapnel tragically hitting a six-year-old girl and an older mother.
According to Isaac Kibira, deputy delegate official of the governor in the chiefdom of Bwito, the toll could increase, because many people have moved following these attacks. Unfortunately, human rights defenders who could have provided monitoring and assistance have already fled the area.
Faced with these new attacks, the army has not yet communicated officially. However, it has been confirmed that the M23 has reinforced its positions with more fighters and ammunition, thus preparing for potential new attacks in the territories of Nyiragongo, Rutshuru and Masisi.
These attacks come even as a high-level meeting on the pre-cantonment of the M23 rebels was held in Goma, in the presence of the East African Community (EAC) facilitator in the security crisis in the country. East of the country, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The situation in Rutshuru therefore remains tense, with civilians caught in the crossfire between rebel groups and armed forces. The search for a peaceful resolution and a return to stability remains a major challenge in this region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo