Shooting In Eastern DR Congo Kills At Least Seven

The camp is just north of the provincial capital Goma.

« The perpetrators have not been identified, » a hospital source said, reporting that four civilians and three soldiers were killed, with 11 people wounded.

The territory’s police administrator, Colonel Patrick Iduma, said « indigenous » militiamen had fired « to frighten off the displaced people occupying their plots ».

Local civil society leader, Pascal Harerimana, said in a witness statement that the perpetrators « were dressed in the new uniforms of soldiers who had recently come to the front ».

He added that the dead included civilians who were in a bar.

Fighting erupted again last month between the Tutsi-led M23 rebels on one side, and Congolese troops and pro-state militia fighters on the other, rupturing several months of relative calm in the volatile region

The M23 — which is allegedly backed by Rwanda — captured swathes of territory in North Kivu after launching a campaign in late 2021.

At least six people were killed and a dozen wounded last weekend when a « dispute » erupted between Congolese troops and pro-state militia fighters in Nyiragongo territory.

In neighbouring Masisi territory on Sunday, local sources reported fighting between the army and rebels after a few days of relative calm.

« The M23 attacked us this morning in Karenga, » a security source said.

The attack dislodged soldiers from their position, « but we are going to recover the area, » the source added.

bur/at/acc/bp