In fights over mineral trafficking between local militias in the highlands of South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), at least seven individuals have been killed this week, according to local sources.
In particular, artisanal miners (“diggers”) in the mining area of Bigaragara, a locality in the Mutambala sector, in the territory of Fizi, rich in gold, were attacked on Wednesday morning by a coalition of armed groups led by “Twigwaneho, Ngumimo, and Androde,” according to Kelvin Bwija, coordinator of “civil society of Uvira-Fizi compatriots.”
The Banyamulenge community, who are Tutsis from remote Rwanda, is represented by these organizations.
The “Biloze Bishambuke” militia, an adversarial armed force, intervened, Mr. Bwija continued.
Seven individuals were murdered, 14 were injured, and residences were set on fire, according to the data in his possession, he claimed. According to him, all of the victims were artisanal miners and their assistants.
The seven fatalities have been confirmed, according to Samuel Kabundila, leader of the Mutambala sector: five adults, including a woman, and two youths.
