Local sources reported that a minimum of seven individuals lost their lives due to gunfire in the strife-ridden eastern region of DR Congo. Intense clashes persist between the army and M23 rebels, escalating tensions in the area.
The details about the shooting incident on Saturday evening at a displaced people’s camp in North Kivu’s Nyiragongo territory remain ambiguous and unclear.
The camp sits to the north of Goma, the provincial capital.
According to a source at the hospital, the individuals responsible for the incident have not yet been identified. The report states that among the casualties, four civilians and three soldiers lost their lives, with an additional 11 individuals sustaining injuries.
Colonel Patrick Iduma, the territory’s police administrator, stated that “indigenous” militia members had discharged firearms with the intention of intimidating and driving away displaced individuals who had settled on their land plots.
According to a witness statement from Pascal Harerimana, a prominent figure in the local civil society, he stated that the individuals responsible for the incident “were attired in fresh military uniforms, indicating recent deployment to the frontline.”
He added that the dead included civilians who were in a bar.
Last month, renewed conflict broke out between the Tutsi-led M23 rebels and Congolese troops along with pro-state militia fighters, shattering a period of relative calm that had persisted in the volatile region for several months.
The M23, reportedly supported by Rwanda, seized large areas of land in North Kivu following their campaign initiated in late 2021.
During the past weekend, a clash between Congolese troops and pro-state militia fighters in Nyiragongo territory resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, with a dozen more wounded.
In the adjacent Masisi territory on Sunday, reports from local sources indicated a resurgence of conflict between the military and rebels following a brief period of relative tranquility.
“The M23 attacked us this morning in Karenga,” a security source said.
The assault forced the soldiers to vacate their position, “but we are going to recover the area,” the source added.