In the DRC, fighting continues between the Mbolé and the Lenga, two communities in the province of Tshopo, at the gates of the city Kisangani, in the north-east of the country. Six civilians died this weekend, bringing the death toll to more than 500 since February.
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This is a higher toll than that given to RFI by security and independent sources who spoke of 250 deaths. This crisis is increasingly worrying because it is now reaching the gates of the city of Kisangani, the capital of the Tshopo province.
“ Today there have been about 5 to 6 days of calm, except yesterday when the attackers withdrew deeper. They tried to worry the population 184 km from the city of Kisangani. Since the start of the conflict in February, more than 70,000 people have been displaced, but many have gone to host families. », says Mateus Kanga, spokesperson for the governor of this province.
“ What is more alarming is the number of children we have been able to register. Several houses have been burned, the need for food has increased and there are sick people… The difficulties are enormous for the province which can no longer provide proper care. », alerts the spokesperson.
The number of victims has exploded in the last two months and the crisis seems to be overwhelming the provincial authorities who are no longer able to supply the displaced with food due to lack of financial resources.
For fear of excesses, the national government dispatched a squadron of 150 police officers to maintain order in the crisis territories.
The conflict between the Mbole and Lenga communities has been brewing for eight months. The former accuse the latter for having sold their land to a company for 20 years of occupation. But the conflict has been worsened by assassinations and cycles of reprisals.
Read alsoDRC: new violent intercommunity clashes in Tshopo