In the DRC, the authorities announce a new assessment of the Kishishe massacre, in North Kivu. A massacre attributed to the M23 rebels who have been leading an offensive in this part of Congo for several months. After an initial report reporting a hundred deaths, the Minister of Industry as well as that of Communication at a press conference, this Monday, December 5, 2022, provided more precise figures, evoking 272 deaths.
With our special correspondent in Kinshasa, Paulina Zidi
” What happened in Rutshuru is a tragedy, a war crime “said Julien Paluku, the Minister of Industry who was speaking mainly in his capacity as former governor of North Kivu. Alongside the Minister of Communication, he returned at length to the balance sheet of the attack in Kishishe last week. Authorities now count 272 dead.
#RDC Special Press Briefing: Kishishe massacre perpetrated by the M23/RDF. Facing the press, the Minister of Industry, Julien PALUKU KAHONGYA and the Minister of Communication and Media, Government Spokesperson, Patrick MUYAYA. https://t.co/eWmrzZN1GZ
— Ministry of Communication and Media/DRC (@Com_mediasRDC) December 5, 2022
Patrick Muyaya explained that this figure, much higher than that given last weekend, had been consolidated with the communities that made the census of the victims. Among them, the government mentioned at least 17 children.
An economic conflict
The Minister acknowledged that there was ” Difficulty matching all the numbers since the area is currently controlled by the M23. ” They were not members of armed groups “, wanted to add the Minister of Industry as a response to the rebels who in a press release rejected these accusations.
Julien Paluku spoke of a war linked above all to economic reasons, in particular to gain access to the mines in the region. The government spokesman added that the Minister of Justice would be in The Hague on Tuesday to request an investigation from the International Criminal Court.
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