A wave of brutal killings in eastern DR Congo has raised alarms, as militias rampage through Ituri province, targeting civilians. A video circulating online shows disturbing scenes of massacres carried out by Congolese militias, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis. Eastern DR Congo has become a hotspot for various armed militias, posing threats not only to Congolese citizens but also to neighboring countries. One such group is the FDLR, a terrorist organisation founded by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Another is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group responsible for various terrorist attacks in Uganda. ALSO READ: Congo is too big for Rwanda to carry on its back, says Kagame The escalating violence has reportedly forced 21 tribes in Ituri to unite and form a political organization aimed at self-defense. Seven armed militias from the region have established a joint high command, declaring their intent to protect their communities from what they describe as state negligence and militia aggression. With no alternative in sight, the newly formed coalition has vowed to take matters into its own hands. They have signaled their intention to launch attacks against the Congolese army (FARDC) and allied militias. The latest killings reveal the nature of the ongoing crisis in DR Congo in which Congolese armed forces, with a coalition of other forces and armed groups, are fighting M23 rebel group. M23 has consistently sounded alarm over the killing of innocent civilians in eastern DR Congo, particularly the Kinyarwanda-speaking communities for whom they are fighting for. There have been efforts by regional bodies including EAC and SADC to resolve the crisis, but calls for diplomatic solution has fell on deaf eyes as Kinshasa government seem to be focused on a military solution. As a result, the crisis has intensified with M23 advancing to South Kivu where they have claimed to have seized control of Kavumu Military Airport, as well as Bukavu. ALSO READ: Ugandan military captures key ADF militia commander in DR Congo Uganda forces deployment blocked In effort to find a lasting solution, the Kinshasa government and Uganda had agreed to allow the Ugandan government to deploy the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Bunia last week. However, sources indicate that the Kinshasa government abruptly canceled the operation at the last minute, leaving communities defenseless. In response, Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and President Yoweri Museveni have expressed deep concern over the violence and the failure of Kinshasa to protect its people. “Kinshasa has proved unable or unwilling to defend them,” sources familiar with the situation said. “They have refused UPDF intervention while innocent people are being slaughtered.” The situation in Ituri is deteriorating rapidly, raising fears of a large-scale humanitarian disaster. Reports of mass killings, displacement, and ethnic targeting are surfacing, yet Kinshasa remains largely silent. Meanwhile, President Félix Tshisekedi, who was in Germany this week, appears focused on diplomatic engagements while his country spirals further into chaos.
