Bukavu : two killed in gunfire, insecurity out of control

SOS Médias Burundi

Bukavu, May 20, 2025 – Two people were killed and a third seriously injured Monday evening in Uvira, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), during a new armed attack attributed to unidentified men. The incident occurred in the Kabindula neighborhood, located in the Kalundu district.

According to a member of the local civil society, the victims were a woman and a young man. “Three people were shot : two unfortunately died, while the third was taken to the general hospital to receive appropriate treatment. The incident occurred around 9 p.m.,” he told SOS Médias Burundi.

This attack comes on the heels of a series of similar incidents that have rocked the city for several weeks. Last week, four other people were shot dead in similar circumstances, fueling a climate of fear and frustration among the population.

Local NGOs denounce the proliferation of weapons illegally held by civilians and call on the Congolese authorities to initiate urgent disarmament.

“These weapons, distributed without supervision, are now in the hands of people who use them to sow death,” said a human rights activist in Uvira.

This renewed insecurity is taking place in a tense context. Last January, residents demonstrated to demand weapons to defend themselves against attacks by M23 rebels. In February, the government responded by arming some civilians without providing them with appropriate military training.

As a result, many of these weapons are now being diverted from their original purpose to commit serious crimes, ranging from robberies to targeted assassinations.

Despite the presence of Congolese armed forces (FARDC), Burundian troops, and pro-government militias such as the Wazalendo, insecurity remains chronic in Uvira. Residents are demanding a coherent security response and the immediate disarmament of armed civilians.