Trois personnes ont été tuées à coups de machette, plusieurs autres blessées par balles, et des maisons incendiées dans la matinée de ce dimanche à Sambia, située dans le territoire de Dungu, dans la province du Haut-Uele, au nord-est de la République Démocratique du Congo.
Zande and Logo Communities Clash in Haut-Uele
The conflict between the Zande and Logo communities in Haut-Uele has taken a deadly turn, with three individuals decapitated and burned, and several others injured. These clashes, which have been ongoing for over a decade, escalated on Sunday morning in Sambia, located in the territory of Dungu.
Violent Confrontation Escalates
According to local sources and Emmanuel Angotowa, president of the civil society of Sambia, the violence broke out between Zande residents of Sambia, in the Wando chieftaincy, and Logo residents of Akuwa, in the Logo Ogambi chieftaincy. The three victims, all young individuals, two Zande, and one Logo, were killed and burned during the clashes, while another victim remains in critical condition in a local health facility.
Government Response and Call for Peace
The situation in Sambia remains tense, with residential and commercial properties set ablaze as members of both communities armed with machetes and firearms engaged in violent confrontations for hours. The Congolese National Police, supported by the FARDC reinforcements from Dungu and Faradje, have regained control of the mining town.
Governor Jean Bakomito Gambu of the Haut-Uele province has urged calm and assured the population of increased military and police presence to quell the acts of barbarism. Administrative officials from Faradje and Dungu have been dispatched to assess the situation, with a provincial delegation set to arrive to find a definitive solution to the conflict.
Roots of the Conflict
The conflict between the Zande and Logo communities dates back to November, when leaders from both localities physically clashed over the arrest of a herder from Akuwa by individuals claiming to be security agents from neighboring Sambia.
The situation in Sambia is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of long-standing communal conflicts that continue to claim lives and disrupt peace in the region. As authorities work towards a resolution, the need for sustainable peace-building efforts and conflict resolution mechanisms becomes increasingly crucial.
Joël Lembakasi, in Isiro