DRC Army deploys to Kipupu after allegations of the killing of more than 200 people by militia. 24 07, 2020

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) deployed on Thursday, 23 July to the village Kipupu, in the headerie of Itombwe (Mwenga territory) in South Kivu. In Kipupu, according to provincial deputies, 220 civilians were killed, on the night of July 16 in an attack attributed to a coalition of militia Ngumino, Twirwaneho and Red Tabara. Spokesperson for operation sokola 2 south in South Kivu, Captain Dieudonné Kasereka, indicates that a permanent FARDC camp is located in Kipupu at the request of the authorities of the 33th military region. ′′ According to the command of the military region, we deployed the military to Kipupu to set up a camp that must remain there forever The army has noticed that the militias have taken advantage of the absence of the military in this village. I also call on the people of Kipupu to abandon the bush to return to their village. There is no longer a question of staying in the bush while the army is already there ", said the army spokesperson. Local sources confirm the army presence since Thursday in Kipupu. But the population who still fear for their safety is not ready to return to the village. ′′ The military are already in Kipupu but it's very difficult for the population to return to the village. We were attacked overnight, we lost everything, people don't have clothes, all household goods were burned in houses, so we're told to go back, how are we going to live? Besides, the wounded are not taken care of so far. We fear for our safety because this is not the first time the army has installed the camp in Kipupu but after a while she closes the camp. Will she stay there this time forever ", wonders Enasi Yoni, head of Kipupu. The Congolese authorities have not always spoken out on allegations of these massacres. However, the information is confirmed by about thirty provincial deputies from South Kivu and customary authorities from Fizi and Itombwe. The latter even decreed two days of mourning in memory of the victims. For its part, Monusco has announced that it will deploy ′′ very soon ′′ a mission to Kipupu to verify these allegations.