At least 26 civilians were shot dead in Kiwanja between 4 and 6 November, according to reports from witnesses provided to MONUC, the United Nations mission in DR Congo. A further 30+ people were injured. Kiwanja is a town north of Goma in North Kivu province, DR Congo. The mass shooting is part of an ongoing humanitarian crisis in North Kivu.
The current conflict started after the recent failure of the January peace agreement between the government and the armed group led by Laurent Nkunda. Since August, Nkunda's forces have been fighting with local Mayi Mayi militia and other armed groups in North Kivu province. Both Nkunda's forces and the Mayi Mayi were involved in attacking civilians in Kiwanja, where thousands of people had fled to escape the conflict. According to Human Rights Watch, Nkunda's forces invaded the town on 5 November, told all 30,000 inhabitants to leave, then systematically targeted civilians whom they claimed supported Nkunda's enemies.
"The tragedy in Kiwanja is not over yet. In additions to the lives ruined by the attack, thousands of people are now living in the surrounding forests where there is neither food nor medicine. The international community must take urgent action through the UN to ensure the perpetrators are bought to justice and to prevent further attacks" said Lutha Bisumbula from RODHECIC, a Congolese IANSA member. Click here to read the RODHECIC statement.
MONUC has started an investigation into the Kiwanja mass shooting. At least 100 civilians have been killed and more than 150 injured in the conflict between August and November, and an estimated 250,000 civilians have been forced from their homes in North Kivu province. Nkunda's armed group is reportedly receiving support from Rwanda.
Rape and castration are used as a weapon of war used by combatants from all sides, and rates have reached epidemic proportions. Members of the IANSA Women's Network – including RODHECIC, Cause Commune, SOFEBU, WILPF DRC and PAIF – have been campaigning to stop this sexual violence. Click here to sign the petition of the Congolese Women's Campaign to Stop Sexual Violence in the DR Congo.
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