DRC: the multiplication of attacks in the Beni area raises questions

Text by: RFI Follow

About 40 km from the city of Beni, the locality of Halungupa and its surroundings have already suffered 7 attacks attributed to Ugandan ADF rebels since January, including 4 since the beginning of April. This makes it the most affected area in the territory of Beni during this period. Why Halungupa, why now? At this stage, little information is available on the reasons for the concentration of the violation in this area. 

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,Ligodi patient

Several hypotheses are put forward. Under pressure since October 2019 following so-called "large-scale" operations launched by the army, the ADF is said to have left the area called "the triangle of death". They were also chased from localities like Mwalika where they had fields and therefore food. 

And they would now find another attic in Halungupa, said MP Paul Muhindo. It is a strategic place for this Islamist movement, especially during this period of Ramadan. They need to get supplies easily, also says a UN source.

The other hypothesis put forward is the cocoa harvest. They cannot currently make a living from the timber trade which is one of their sources of income, so they want to get their hands on cocoa. This is also one of the assumptions of the UN, of the Kivu Security security barometer. A watch platform created by Human Rights Watch and the Congo Study Group.

All these tracks are still at the level of hypotheses, but civil society, the army, the UN and various other experts maintain that if the ADF manage to strike four times in less than a month in the same place, it is probably because they benefit from local and regional ties.

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DRC: attacks are increasing in and around Halungupa, in the Beni region