Chaos in Uvira: looting and violence - the situation escalated!

Chaos in Uvira: looting and violence - the situation escalated!

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the situation is dramatically pushing. On Thursday, the local bishop of Uvira, Sebastien Joseph Muyengo Mulombe, was attacked and robbed in his own bishop's house. This was reported by the Catholic diocese of Uvira, which states that soldiers of the regular armed forces (FARDC) stormed the diocese. The attackers threatened the security guard and the cook, threw the bishop and two priests to the ground and robbed money, phones and personal possessions before locking the victims in their rooms. According to the Vatican mission press service "Fides", this incident shows how great the uncertainty in the competitive provinces of the Eastern Congo is, where the population suffers from constant raids and looting.

clashes and panic in uvira

the situation escalated when the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda further forward towards Uvira after the conquest of the provincial capital Bukavu. Local residents reported shots and looting in the city, while many FARDC soldiers wanted to flee across the Tanganjika lake. The local prison was found that inmates, including 228 soldiers who had been arrested due to desertion, were released. The chaos in Uvira continues to disappear the Congolese authorities. A resident described the scene as “completely out of control”, while the road was lined with corpses and over 100 people were brought to the hospital seriously injured, as reported by a local traveler.

The fear of a larger conflict grows. The M23 rebels that have achieved considerable regional gains and fuel ethnic tensions put pressure on the population. Many soldiers fight for their positions while communication between the government units has become fragile. The unrest not only have an impact on site, but also create a feeling of concern to Kinshasa, the capital, where people fear that the chaos could also endanger their security, according to the reports from Market screener .