Unidentified armed men attacked traders and motorists on National Road No. 2 in the vicinity of Mabenga, in Rutshuru territory, in the heart of Virunga National Park in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the morning of Friday 24 April 2026.

According to local sources, at least ten motorcycles and a Fuso lorry were targeted by the attackers in an area currently under the control of the AFC/M23 movement. The attack, which reportedly lasted around 30 minutes from 10.20 am to 10.50 am, is said to have taken place without any intervention from the security forces. Several valuable items, including goods, cash and mobile phones, were taken.

“Unidentified armed men systematically attacked and looted business owners and road users. Several items were taken,” Ngav’we Bin Kun warned in a message shared on social media. According to this account, a trader reportedly lost an estimated $150, an Android phone, five boxes of Thomson fish, ten boxes of wine, and five bags containing goods belonging to the Uwaze women’s association in Vitshumbi.

Other corroborating sources indicate that these acts of looting have been on the rise in the region for several months. “Hardly a day goes by without a new incident being reported,” says a local source. This situation is having a particularly severe impact on small traders, especially those operating in the Vitshumbi fishing village.

In the face of this persistent insecurity, Ngav’we Bin Kun is calling for security measures to be stepped up. “The relevant authorities must urgently strengthen security in this area to protect the local population and road users. The people of Vitshumbi, who are mainly fishermen and small traders, are currently living in a state of alarming insecurity,” he laments.

It should be noted that, a few months earlier, an association of vehicle owners had called a strike to protest against this security situation. However, the strike was called off without achieving the desired result.

However, to date, no official statement has yet been issued on this matter. Nevertheless, in a letter addressed to the provincial director of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), a copy of which was sent to the head of the Vitshumbi locality, new guidelines regarding the so-called ‘Salongo’ community works were outlined, with a view to strengthening security within the park.

“During the security meeting, it was decided to clear a 10-metre strip on either side of the road in order to neutralize the enemy operating in the area covering Mabenga–Rwindi–Vitshumbi–Kibirizi–Kanyabayonga,” reads the letter from the administrator of the Rutshuru territory of the AFC/M23 movement, dated 20 April.

“We hereby inform you that from this Saturday, 25 May 2026, our men from the relevant units will carry out this community work,” the same document states.

Written by OSL (pseudonym)