Three World Food Programme (WFP) warehouses have been looted, filled with food intended for internally displaced people and those affected by the conflict in the region, in the city of Beni in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Radio Okapi, these incidents occurred as a result of public frustration over police interference with their attempts to recover the bodies of their loved ones. Tensions escalated following police efforts to block access to a cemetery in Oicha, an area in North Kivu, and the controversial ADF militia’s activities in the region.
This food warehouse raid came after the tragic event on the night of September 23, 2023, where the abductors mercilessly killed 26 civilians, including 12 children under 18 years of age and 14 adults, including their mayor, Nicolas Kikuku.
Antony Mwalushayi, a spokesperson for the local military, suggested that the attack could be linked to the growing struggle between the DRC military and the ADF.
For years, Beni has experienced significant unrest due to ongoing conflicts, further exacerbated by the ADF militia in the Eastern Congo. The region is known for its instability, and these events have left the community in shock.
Uganda and Congo have also launched joint military operations over the past two years in a bid to eliminate ADF insurgents from the region.