Six (6) deaths and several injuries is the current provisional toll from an altercation between rogue elements of the naval force on mixed patrol with environmental agents, Agripel, and the fishing committee at Lunyasenge on the waters of Lake Eduard on Friday, August 4, 2023. This situation caused all socio-economic activities to be paralyzed at Kamandi Lake, in the South of Lubero territory in Nord-Kivu.
According to local sources, everything started from a misunderstanding followed by a dispute about fish between the fishermen and the mixed naval patrol in Lunyasenge. During these altercations, a member of the naval force fired at a fisherman in the canoe.
Informed about this situation, the population of the village of Kamandi Lake took to the streets to protest against this shooting by a member of the naval force. The elements of the naval force tried to disperse the protesters by firing warning shots, our sources indicate.
During this altercation, four (4) other people were hit by bullets before succumbing to their injuries, local sources at Kamandi explain. Amani Mugheni, a governor’s delegate official assigned to this area who confirms the incident speaks of 5 deaths and 5 injuries still provisional.
Kaniki Salomon, of the International Circle for the Defense of Human Rights, Peace and the Environment, (CIDHOP) who confirms this information demands legal prosecution against the perpetrators. Kilalopress.net’s efforts to contact the commander of the naval force in the region were unsuccessful.
Augustin Tsongo from Lubero
