Published on : 13/04/2021 – 03:01
–
At least 7 people have been killed and 22 injured, in and around Goma, in violence on the sidelines of protests against insecurity in North Kivu province. This violence peaked on Sunday and continued on Monday April 12 in the outskirts of Goma.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The violence began on Sunday April 11 when two motorcycle taxis were killed by demonstrators in the Buhene neighborhood, in the village of Rukoko. The bikers were accused of having violated the order to stop traffic for demonstrating against insecurity in the region.
The situation degenerated and turned into a quasi-communal conflict. The incident took place against a backdrop of latent conflict between two communities that cohabit in Buhene.
The Police tried to intervene in vain. Several people were killed by bullets and others by clubs, machetes and other bladed weapons. More than twenty injured were also recorded. The material toll is also considerable. About ten houses were burnt down and businesses destroyed.
Curfew at 6 p.m. and demonstrations prohibited in North Kivu
Looting scenes have also been reported. On Monday, people living in the Munigi neighborhoods left their homes to take refuge in the southern neighborhoods of the city.
Measures have been taken by the governor of North Kivu, Carly Nzanzu. The curfew, imposed as part of the fight against the coronavirus, has been reduced from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. in some of the neighborhoods affected by this violence. And demonstrations are now banned throughout the province of North Kivu.
Read also: DRC: civil society questions the presence of Monusco in the East
– .
