GOMA: At least six people were killed and several others were injured in a deadly clash between soldiers and pro-government militants in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), security officials said as reported by AFP news agency. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in the village of Mugerwa, approximately 15 kilometers from the city of Goma.
According to security officials, a dispute arose between soldiers and the Wazalendo militiamen, escalating into a gunfire exchange. “They shot at each other in this misunderstanding, and there are six dead and nine wounded,” stated the security official.
Details surrounding the altercation remain unclear, adding to the existing tensions in the region. Last month, clashes erupted with the M23 rebels, ending a period of relative calm. The Tutsi-led M23 group has seized significant territories since late 2021, displacing over one million people.
Rebels Conflict in DR Congo
The current conflict pits M23 rebels against the Congolese army and loyal militias, locally known as ‘Wazalendo.’ Mambo Kawaya, a civil-society leader near Goma, confirmed six fatalities and ten injuries in the latest incident. Adolphe Muhire, a member of the DRC’s civil protection service, reported that among the casualties were one soldier, one policeman, and four civilians, emphasizing that the toll is provisional.
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Militias have long plagued the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a lingering legacy of regional wars in the 1990s and 2000s. Western countries, including the United States and France, have alleged that Rwanda supports the M23 rebels, a claim vehemently denied by Kigali.
