Murders of Two Women in M23-Controlled Area of Katwiguru, Rutshuru
In a horrifying incident that shook the community of Katwiguru, located 27 kilometers from Kiwanja in the Binza group, Bwisha chieftaincy (Rutshuru territory) in North Kivu, two women were brutally murdered with machetes on the evening of Friday, January 3, 2025. The area is under the control of the M23 rebel group, adding to the prevailing sense of fear and insecurity in the region.
Witness Account of the Gruesome Attack
Isaac Kibira, the deputy delegate official of the governor in the neighboring Bwito chieftaincy and a notable figure in Rutshuru, provided a chilling account of the incident. According to Kibira, the two women were ambushed while they were selling local drinks in the area. Armed men descended upon them around 7 p.m., mercilessly beheading them without any apparent motive or justification. The brutal nature of the attack left the community in shock, with residents forced to seek refuge in the wilderness for the night.
Call for Government Intervention
Expressing outrage at the senseless killings, Isaac Kibira urged the government in Kinshasa to take immediate action to address the escalating insecurity exacerbated by the aggressive warfare imposed on the DRC by Rwanda. He emphasized the urgent need for peace and stability in the region, highlighting the plight of the vulnerable population caught in the crossfire of conflict.
Human Rights Violations and Plea for International Support
The M23 rebels have been accused of committing numerous atrocities in the areas under their control, including Rutshuru and Masisi territories. They have imposed restrictions on local farmers, prohibiting them from accessing their fields under the pretext of operational zones. Violators of this rule have faced deadly consequences, with several farmers being killed in their fields, their bodies never to be found. Human rights organizations have condemned these grave violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by the M23/RDF coalition, calling for urgent intervention from regional and international bodies to restore peace and protect the vulnerable population.
As the community mourns the loss of two innocent lives, the plea for justice and security grows louder, echoing the sentiments of those living in fear of the ongoing conflict. The brutal murders serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the urgent need for lasting peace in the troubled region.