We are increasingly concerned with the surge in violence in Béni, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in recent days.
We have been in touch with our local partners in Béni, who have shared their response to the violence. They underlined how the state must understand how the local population has been affected by several killings since 2014. They also emphasised the importance of understanding and compassion in the face of violence, and in giving different groups the time to compose themselves following recent events.
On 27th November, our partners confirmed that a further 14 civilian deaths have been reported in Mamiki, a village approximately 9km west of Oicha, the capital of the Béni area. This further violence has caused a large number of people to flee on foot towards Oicha and Béni city.
Peace Direct condemns these attacks against civilians. This recent uptick in violence shows how local communities often bear the brunt of conflict and are the worst affected, yet are the people who best know how to stop violence in its tracks.
