The civil society of the Kalehe territory in the province of South Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, asks the government to bring to justice soldiers involved in the death of four civilians. The tragedy took place in this region plunged into permanent insecurity, last Friday late in the afternoon.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

In a press release, the coordinator of the Kalehe civil society, Delphin Birimbi, accuses soldiers of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) of having shot at civilians, killing 4 people and injuring 8 others, last Friday early evening. The FARDC elements who are singled out have been identified as part of a special unit called « Satan », according to the activist.

According to witnesses, the tragedy occurred in the center of the town of Numbi. They blame soldiers who were in the middle of a shift for opening fire on « peaceful citizens ».

Thamas Bakenga, administrator of Kalehe, confirmed the death of 4 people in Numbi. He said they were killed by soldiers without giving details or describing the circumstances of this killing.

A spokesperson for the Congolese army was not available to answer our questions. Delphin Birimbi calls on the Congolese government to « intervene to limit the damage » and the military justice system to « punish in an exemplary manner the soldiers and militias supported by the government who are guilty of serious violations of human rights and assassinations » to « discourage the perpetrators of these abuses ».

On September 19, a local human rights defender was killed by a militiaman in the same area at the same time as another civilian was seriously injured in an attack by another militiaman.

Local civil society encourages the military prosecutor to favor outdoors hearings in such cases.

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Displaced persons settled in Kalehe following clashes between the army and armed groups, May 2024 (SOS Médias Burundi)