Vigilante Violence Increases in Rebel-Controlled Bukavu Amid Security Gaps

In Bukavu, eastern Congo, at least 11 people have been killed due to rising vigilante violence following the army’s withdrawal. M23 rebels are attempting to establish order and retrain local police but face accusations of failing to ensure public safety. This situation highlights the community’s distress over a lack of effective policing amidst ongoing conflicts in the region.

A surge in violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals in Bukavu, a city in eastern Congo under the control of the M23 rebel group. Witnesses attribute this uptick in vigilante justice to the absence of police intervention following the army’s withdrawal. The M23 rebels aim to establish their administrative authority and have begun retraining local police to operate under their command.

Amos Bisimwa, a human rights activist from Bukavu, reported that the local police have failed to maintain public order. He expressed the community’s frustration, stating, “We were told that a police force had been sent for ideological training… We want to see this police force return to Bukavu to maintain public order and intervene in cases of mob justice.” His organization documented the eleven deaths linked to vigilante attacks over two days, primarily targeting alleged thieves and those accused of witchcraft.

Residents sometimes leave the burnt bodies of victims on the streets, escalating tensions. Moke Mwayuma shared her grief over her brother’s death, who was wrongly accused of theft and burned alive. She stated, “He is not a thief. What is his crime? We don’t know. We found the fire over there, and he was burning in it.” Dunia Masumbuko Bwenge, the M23-appointed vice governor, indicated that the rise in vigilante justice reflects the populace’s fears regarding crime, stating there are “several cases” driven by threats from alleged criminals.

The M23’s advance into Bukavu marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, which has roots in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the battle for control of mineral resources. Despite ongoing accusations from Congo, the United Nations, and Western nations regarding Rwandan support for the M23, Rwanda denies such claims, asserting its self-defense against threats from Hutu militants allied with the Congolese military.

The situation in Bukavu illustrates the dangerous intersection of vigilante justice, rebel governance, and a breakdown of social order following military withdrawal. With the M23 attempting to consolidate control and establishing their own administration, the spiraling violence raises human rights concerns and highlights the urgent need for effective law enforcement to restore peace and order. The root causes of unrest, tied to historical conflicts and resource struggles, complicate the path towards stability in the region.

Original Source: www.usnews.com