By RFIPosted on 15-12-2019Changed on 15-12-2019 at 20:29
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the city of Beni is once again hit by an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). It happened in the night from Saturday to Sunday. The toll is heavy, it reports at least 22 dead, including 13 women.
This assessment is only provisional according to Noella Katsongerwaki, the president of the network of the organizations of the civil society of Beni-territory joined by AFP, because the excavations continue and other bodies could be discovered in the next hours.
What we do know at the moment is that the attack took place last night. It happened in Ntombi, west of Mayimoya, the attackers were armed with machetes. Still to believe Noella Katsongerwaki, the latter attacked civilians and more specifically farmers.
According to the first figures, thirteen women are among the victims. Already on Saturday, a previous attack in the city had killed six civilians.
The ADF attacks therefore continue on Beni territory, despite the installation in the city since November 28 of General Célestin Mbala, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the arrival in reinforcement of another general, John Numbi, the inspector general of the Congolese forces.
The offensive launched on October 30 in the region by the Congolese armed forces against the armed groups is raising more and more questions among the population of the territory. A population which doubts more and more the capacity of the army to protect it.
Read also: DRC: climate of suspicion in Beni, two people lynched by the population
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