DR Congo Lawmakers In Goma To Investigate Killing Of 14 Civilians
Following the death of at least 14 people, DR Congo legislators have pushed for an investigation into the death of the demonstrators.
The Democratic Republic of Congo National Assembly on Sunday, April 18, dispatched a delegation of eight parliamentarians to Goma in North Kivu to investigate the killing of 14 civilians in the city and its neighbourhoods during recent demonstrations against insecurity.
The delegation is made up of Didier Kamundu of the Masisi constituency, Muteule Moromoro of Nyirangongo, Jeannette Mapera of Lubero and Jean-Baptiste Kasekwa, Elvis Mutiri, Patrick Munyomo, Hubert Furuguta and Josue Mufula of the Goma constituency.
According to the provincial authorities, the violence that broke out following demonstrations against the UN forces in North Kivu resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians while 53 other persons were wounded, with more than 35 houses razed and properties looted in Buhene, Kihisi, and Turunga neighbourhoods situated to the north of Goma in the Nyirangongo territory.
The demonstrations became an ethnic confrontation involving the youths of the Nange community against those of the Kumu community living in the Nyirangongo territory.
On arrival in Goma, the lawmakers first held talks with Carly Kasivita, the Governor of North Kivu, on the said violence which led to the deaths.
“We this delegation of eight national members of parliament, have effectively come here in Goma with the objective of discussing with our fellow citizens who experienced the events here,” Didier Kamundu, who led the delegation told the governor.
“We have come to support the provincial executive, that is to say, the governor of the province and all his team who faced the situation, but also, we have come to sympathize with the victims and bring a message of peace and cohesion.”
“We will be able to meet different segments of the community and that is why we started with the Governor. We hope that we would bring our own contribution towards solving the problem.”
During a plenary session of the Congolese National Assembly last week, a member of the Assembly, Singoma Mwanza, had proposed to the Bureau of the Assembly the urgent constitution of a commission to inquire into incidents that took place in that part of the country.
“We are made up of several communities. It is a diversity which should absolutely result in unity because there is no ethnic group that would chase the other away from North Kivu province,” said Elvis Mutiri.
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