DRC: after Goma, "dead city" day in Bukavu for the release of Bunagana
Congolese army soldiers in the streets of Bunagana in April 2022. AFP - GUERCHOM NDEBO
Text by: RFI Follow
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Activity is likely to slow down in several towns in eastern DRC.
Civil society in the province of South Kivu calls on the inhabitants of Bukavu to observe a "dead city" day this Tuesday, September 27.
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An operation similar to that launched
this Monday, September 26 in Goma
by civil society in the province of North Kivu.
Objective: to challenge the Congolese authorities and the international community on the persistent insecurity in the east of the country.
Civil society makes three demands, starting with the immediate liberation of Bunagana, this locality in Rutshuru territory, controlled
since June by the M23 rebels
.
Above all, do not forget the inhabitants of Bunagana, that is the meaning of these dead city operations.
One way, explains Placide Nzilamba, technical secretary of the provincial coordination of civil society in North Kivu, to challenge the authorities: “
We are angry because our compatriots are suffering.
These inhabitants live as if they were in hell.
It must be said.
Some are killed, houses are systematically looted, schools destroyed.
The government must release Bunagana”.
"
The FARDC do not control Bunagana
"
M23 militiamen have occupied Bunagana for more than three months now.
Today, within civil society, many point to the inaction of the armed forces.
A powerlessness that worries Jackson Kalimba, the president of civil society in South Kivu: “
Our army,
the FARDC, does not control Bunagana
, and that is what is worrying civil society.
We can't celebrate when it's on fire with the neighbors, because tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, if we stay calm, we could end up with the same situation in Goma or Bukavu.
The country is threatened with balkanization”.
In recent months, the situation in Bunagana has contributed to souring relations between the DRC and neighboring Rwanda.
Kinshasa accuses Kigali of supporting the M23 rebellion, which
the Rwandan authorities dispute
.
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