Intense fighting has broken out in the city of Lubumbashi, causing massive destruction and significant loss of life. The clashes between GENAFEC rebel group, largely composed of Swahili-speaking fighters, against the Wazalendo militia from the Bapfulero community.
According to local sources, the violence began early Sunday morning, November 2, in the Lwashi area of Lubumbashi, located in Haut-Katanga Province. Reports reaching Minembwe Capital News indicate that at least 11 people from the Bapfulero side have been killed, while dozens more have sustained injuries.
Witnesses say three churches belonging to the 8th CEPAC denomination and numerous Bapfulero homes have been burned to the ground. Some victims were reportedly trapped inside their homes when they were set ablaze, though the exact number remains unknown.
Resident from the affected area told Minembwe Capital News, “We want the government to know what is happening here and to come to our aid before it’s too late.”
Community sources accuse the GENAFEC rebels of looting businesses belonging to Bapfulero traders and committing acts of violence and torture.As of now, the Congolese government has not issued any official statement regarding the fighting.
Eyewitnesses report that both sides remain engaged in heavy clashes. The Wazalendo fighters are said to be using a few firearms alongside traditional weapons such as machetes, spears, and sticks, while the GENAFEC group reportedly wields modern and heavy weaponry.
Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo after Kinshasa, lies in the southern part of the country, bordering Zambia. The ongoing violence has raised fresh concerns over security and stability in the region.
