Surge in Mob Violence in Bukavu Amid Rebel Control and Police Withdrawal
This article discusses a surge in mob violence in Bukavu, DRC, resulting in at least 11 deaths. With the army’s withdrawal, M23 rebels are attempting to restore order while community members resort to vigilante justice due to the inaction of local police. The situation highlights the broader context of the conflict in eastern Congo.
In the rebel-held city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 11 individuals were killed in mob attacks over a recent 24-hour period. This surge in violence is attributed to the army’s withdrawal and the subsequent rise of vigilante justice, as reported by witnesses and civil society activists on Thursday. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are attempting to assert control and establish their administration in Bukavu by retraining hundreds of Congolese police officers to operate under their authority.
Human rights activist Amos Bisimwa highlighted that the local police have not intervened in these vigilante actions, prompting residents to take justice into their own hands. Bisimwa emphasized the need for a police force to restore public order, stating, “We want to see this police force return to Bukavu so that it can continue to maintain public order and, above all, intervene in cases of mob justice.”
The Observatory of Parliamentary and Governmental Actions in the DRC reported that the victims of these attacks were accused of various crimes, including theft and witchcraft. In disturbing instances, the charred bodies have been displayed in public, attracting crowds. Moke Mwayuma recounted the tragic story of her brother, who was falsely accused of theft and burned alive, expressing her grief and confusion over his fate.
Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, M23’s vice governor in South Kivu, noted that the increase in vigilante violence reflects a community responding to perceived threats from criminals committing theft and sexual violence. The M23 militia advanced into central Bukavu shortly after the local army’s withdrawal on February 16, marking a serious escalation in the longstanding conflict in eastern Congo, which is deeply intertwined with regional tensions and resource struggles.
Despite ongoing accusations from Congo, the United Nations, and Western allies regarding Rwandan support for M23, Rwanda asserts it is merely acting in self-defense against a Hutu militia aligned with the Congolese military.
The situation in Bukavu illustrates the dire consequences of the army’s withdrawal, leading to increased vigilante violence and a breakdown in order. The actions of the M23 rebels, as well as their attempts to establish control and train local police, underscore the complexities of the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. The local community’s turn to mob justice reflects deep-seated fears and frustrations amid an environment marked by lawlessness and insecurity.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
