FARDC and Burundian Forces Resume Pillaging in Ndondo
Reliable sources from Ndondo in the Bijombo groupement report that security continues to deteriorate in the area, with looting and arson escalating once again. On Tuesday morning, information emerged indicating that the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), together with Burundian troops and armed groups including Wazalendo and FDLR, carried out raids on the fields of Banyamulenge residents.
These incidents took place in Murambya, one of the localities within Ndondo in the Bijombo groupement, Uvira territory, South Kivu Province. A resident from the area reported that the raids primarily targeted staple crop fields, including maize and potatoes, which are essential to the livelihoods of the local population.
He stated: “FARDC and Burundian forces, alongside armed groups such as the FDLR and Wazalendo, came to loot our fields in Murambya. They took maize and potatoes, which were vital for our survival.”
The most affected areas are in Murambya, particularly in localities known as Ijimbo and Murushimisha, where looting was conducted on a large and visible scale.
These reports follow a series of violent incidents that occurred last weekend, Friday and Saturday, when FARDC, Burundian troops, and armed groups including FDLR and Wazalendo attacked residents, looting livestock, food, and other essential items, and setting many houses ablaze in Murambya and its surroundings.
As a result, many residents have fled their homes, some losing all their belongings, while others continue to live in fear and extreme psychological distress.
Banyamulenge communities, particularly those in the Mulenge hills, are frequently targeted due to the region’s complex dynamics and long-standing conflicts over land, governance, and security.
Currently, security in the area remains precarious, with many residents continuing to flee to areas they perceive as safer. There are growing concerns that without prompt intervention, such incidents could escalate further, exacerbating humanitarian and human rights challenges.
These renewed acts of looting and arson underscore the severity of insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. While international actors and various institutions continue to seek sustainable solutions, residents of Bijombo and Minembwe continue to bear the heavy cost of these conflicts, losing lives, property, and hope for the future.