Four people were killed and several others were injured in an armed attack on a pharmacy in the Katoyi neighborhood of Goma (North Kivu) on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 7:00 pm on Makengele Avenue, near the Katindo mosque. Unidentified men in uniform stormed into the pharmacy and opened fire on those inside. The pharmacist and three of his customers were killed on the spot, while several others were wounded. The attackers also made off with an unspecified amount of money and phones. A resident of Maranatha Avenue recalled, “It was around 7:27 pm. We heard gunshots and later found out that everyone inside the pharmacy had been killed.”
The injured individuals were quickly transported to various healthcare facilities in the city for urgent treatment. Additionally, in the early hours of Friday, two local leaders were brutally gunned down on CEAVI Avenue in the Mugunga neighborhood of Karisimbi commune. The avenue chief Avu and a leader of ten houses were both murdered by unidentified armed individuals around 2:00 am, as reported by witnesses. These killings further exacerbate the prevailing climate of insecurity in Goma, a city under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel group. The incidents have left the community shaken and fearful for their safety, with many questioning the ability of authorities to maintain law and order in the region.
As the city grapples with these tragic events, residents are left wondering about the motives behind such senseless violence. The lack of accountability and the impunity enjoyed by armed groups have only fueled the cycle of bloodshed and fear among the population. The recent attacks have underscored the urgent need for enhanced security measures and more robust efforts to dismantle armed factions operating in the area. The frequency of such incidents has raised concerns about the overall stability of the region and the ability of the government to protect its citizens effectively. The residents are calling for swift action to address the root causes of insecurity and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice, in order to restore peace and stability to the embattled city of Goma.
