An ulterior civilian massacre was carried out by the troops of the
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), which control the Uvira area (South
Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo). The killings - as referred today by
our MISNA sources (who will remain anonymous) - took place on Saturday the
23rd of October at the Kahungwe market (7km from Sange, just over 40km
north of Uvira). For the moment the death toll is of dozens, mainly women
that were selling products on the square. Also many people passing through
the market, who attempted to escape, were chased and killed. The massacre
followed a dispute between the FAP - Popular Armed Forces which reunite the
Mayi-Mayi, currently allied to President Laurent Désiré Kabila, and a mixed
contingent of RCD soldiers. Following their defeat in the confrontation
with the Mayi-Mayi, the RCD troops went to the market and randomly opened
fire. Even Uvira's local radio reported the Kahungwe market massacre the
next day, though referring a death toll of 14. While the total - concluded
our MISNA sources - will predictably rise to around one hundred. Nineteen
of the victims have already been identified and our MISNA agency has the
list of their names.
Ulterior confirmations arrived this morning regarding the civilian massacre carried out two weeks ago, on Saturday at the Kahungwe market, not far from Sange (about 40km north of Uvira, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo). At least 75 people were killed in the massacre carried out by a contingent of the RCD (Congolese Rally for Democracy) that included Burundian soldiers. Most of the victims were women, at the market to sell or buy products. Our MISNA agency - as already reported yesterday - has a first list of 19 names of the victims. Mainly residents of Uvira and Sange: 1) Eric Tshrala, 2) Zairois Musiwa, 3) Murabazi, 4) Ms. Kabibi Malekera, 5) Ms. Safi, 6) Ms. Faili, 7) Ms. Shukurani Bugoyi, 8) Ms. Siku, 9) Ms. Honorina, 10) Kishule Ruhurumba, 11) Ms. Riziki Kikeja, 12) Ms. Bahati Kakina, 13) Yakobo, 14) Ms. Bahati Sera, 15) Ms. Mwenge, 16) Ms. Ndegeza, 17) Ms. Bitisho Kubembeleza, 18) Ms. Kikala Karubandika, 19) Mr. Baluzi.
The massacre, as referred by our MISNA sources, followed an armed confrontation between the FAP (Popular Armed Forces which reunite the Mayi-Mayi) and a contingent of the RCD. After their defeat, the RCD soldiers went to the Kahungwe market and opened fire on the defenseless people. It is important to note that the Government of Burundi has always denied the presence of a Burundian contingent in ex-Zaire. Though its participation to the anti-President Laurent Désiré Kabila forces has on several occasions been denounced by various of our MISNA sources since the 5th of August 1998, the first days of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.