GOMA: At least nine people were killed in an attack on Marangara village in the North Kivu province’s Rutshuru territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The village is under the control of military forces deployed by the East African Community (EAC) to combat violence in the country’s restive east. The attack, carried out by armed men overnight, marks the latest incident of violence in the region in recent weeks.
Local sources reported that among the nine fatalities, two were found in military uniforms, while four others were injured. Additionally, five homes were set ablaze during the attack. The identity of the assailants remains unknown at this time.
According to a civil society leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the attackers are believed to be M23 rebels. The Tutsi-led militia group has been accused of committing multiple atrocities against civilians in the region.
Rwanda Accused of Backing Militant Groups in DR Congo
The preliminary death toll includes women and children, as well as two suspected members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a predominantly Hutu militia founded by individuals involved in the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda.
The FDLR is perceived as a threat by the Rwandan government, which has used the group’s existence as justification for past interventions in DR Congo.
M23 resurfaced in late 2021 and has since seized control of various territories in North Kivu, adding to the region’s instability. While Rwanda denies any involvement in supporting the M23, the DRC government, independent UN experts, and several Western nations, including the United States and France, have accused Rwanda of actively backing the militia group.
The violence highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining security and stability in DR Congo’s eastern provinces.
