DRC: several victims in a bomb explosion in the city of Beni
Congolese soldiers crossing the road that leads the town of Beni to the Ugandan border, here on May 23, 2021. (Illustrative image) © Alexis Huguet, AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
At least six people died in an explosion Saturday, December 25 in the city of Beni, in eastern DRC.
A man set off a bomb near a hotel where people were celebrating Christmas.
In the midst of a state of siege since May, the province of North Kivu continues to suffer from insecurity.
Among the other 13 wounded, admitted to hospitals, are two deputy mayors of the municipalities of Mulekera and Ruwenzori.
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According to the spokesperson for the military governor of North Kivu, General Sylvain Ekenge, the attack took place around 8 p.m. local time, at the entrance of a busy bar in Ishango.
He said the suicide bomber activated the bomb at the entrance to the bar, after being "
prevented by security guards from accessing the bar crowded with customers
", according to an official statement.
Shortly after the explosion, angry young people tried to barricade Boulevard Nyamwisi between the June 30 roundabout and the Malepe district.
But they were dispersed by the police,
reports our
correspondent in Bukavu,
William Basimike.
This is the third bomb attack in Beni since June.
The first
targeted a Catholic parish in Bustili district
, leaving two injured among the faithful.
The second took place in a drinking establishment, leaving the suicide bomber as the only victim.
For the spokesperson for the military governor, "
the ADF terrorists
(Allied Democratic Forces - Editor's note)
, operationally at bay on the ground, activated their sleeper cells in the town of Beni and the surrounding towns in order to trigger off actions against peaceful citizens
”.
The mayor of Beni calls on residents to stay at home.
The military authorities of North Kivu are calling on the population of the Beni territory to be vigilant and to avoid crowded places during this holiday season.
In the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been carrying out
joint military operations
since November 30
against the positions of the rebels of the Ugandan group of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ADF rebels are also accused by Kampala of being responsible
for recent attacks on its soil
, claimed by the jihadist organization Islamic State (IS), which presents this group as its province in Central Africa (ISCAP).
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