A three-day mourning was declared by Beni’s civil society after the attack that killed 6 people on Wednesday, March 24, on Beni-Kasindi Road in North Kivu Province. It was aimed at vehicles transporting goods. Faced with growing uncertainty on this road, truck drivers have gone on strike and are calling for more protection.
as reported from Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The attack was not claimed but was attributed to Ugandan-born ADF insurgents. During the attack, which took place between 8am and 10am, two vehicles were targeted, one returning from Kasindi, bordering Uganda and the other from the city of Beni. The vehicles were unloaded before being ignited. Some passengers are charred and an injured survivor is currently being cared for in hospital.
After the attack, the drivers decided to suspend all activities on this axis to protest the growing uncertainty. The local civil society accuses for its part the army to intervene late. She says she does not understand how these armed men were not seen after the attack took place in the morning.
It therefore requires credible investigations and asks in particular the commander of the military operation Sokola 1 to distribute a special unit in this very busy section.
This year’s third attack
It is the third attack of this type since the beginning of the year on this road axis. Always with the same mode of operation: looted and charred vehicles. A total of 11 people, including 4 drivers and their passengers, lost their lives during these attacks.
A meeting between the drivers, civil society and the authorities is scheduled for Sunday in Beni to evaluate the situation.
