DRC: Clashes between Army and M23 sow terror in the east of the country

6-year-old German and 7-year-old Isaac were friends. The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fighting between the army and insurgents in the March 23 movement (M23). They were killed in parts, victims of a conflict that has spread panic and terror in the region. The two children went to a St. Gilbert school in Biruma, about 50km north of Goma, between the North Kivu capital and Bunagana, a shopping mall on the Ugandan border that was captured by M23 rebels on Monday, June 13th.

The Congolese army has blamed Rwanda for the bombing of a German and Isaac school in the Rutzhuru area on Friday. “War Crimes”. He blamed the same country for catching Bunagan“Invasion” From Congo territory, once again claiming that Kigali’s army was fighting alongside the rebels. Whatever Rwanda denies. The Congolese government raised its voice Tuesday evening, Condemns Rwandan government’s involvement in supporting, financing and arming the uprising And promises protection “Every centimeter” Of its territory.

“We are tired of the war. May peace be upon us so that my eight other children may live and grow! », Begs Sifa, 29, Isaac’s mother, who was sitting in front of the house. Her husband, Bigego, does not know her exact age, but thinks she was “Maybe he was 30 when M23 was here in 2013”Which will make him 40 today. Basically the Tutsi Uprising, which was born in 2012, the M23 briefly occupied Goma before being defeated in 2013 by the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and UN peacekeepers. He again took up arms in late 2021 and accused the Congolese government of failing to abide by an agreement to demobilize and reintegrate its fighters.

“We live in fear in the stomach”

This is demanded by Joseph Nziunvira, Germain’s father Developed countries are helping Congo to enforce the law and punish the perpetrators.. He blames Rwanda, even if he admits it is not “Neither a politician nor a soldier”. “I am a farmershe said. But now, my son was suddenly killed. We are still scared because the fight continues. » Not far from his house, among the banana trees, the graves of two children have been dug, flowers have been planted. The bodies of the little boys were so damaged that their families wanted to bury them immediately. “But due to security conditions we could not go to the cemetery”Explain it to their parents.

The population is living in terror after this bombing. “Residents are sleeping outside, there has been no school for three days, we live in fear in the stomach”– says Floribert Hakizumwam, head of Biruma. A school in the neighboring village of Catale was also bombed, with a tin roof pierced, two classrooms completely destroyed. There were no casualties, the buildings were empty at the time of the bombing.

Army patrols on the road to Goma intensified, with tanks visible. But the panic remains. In the neighboring area of ​​Nyiragongo, where fighting broke out against the army at the end of May M23, dozens of families are leaving with scarce property. “I do not have a fixed destination, I just have to save my life”Explains Elizabeth Nsengyunwa. “Residents of Gasiza, very close to Virunga Park, told us they saw insurgents who told them to come and kill us all.”– adds the mother of a panicked family.

An army officer in Kibumba, about twenty kilometers from Goma, condemns this movement of the population caused by rumors, he claims on social media.