The security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo worsened in August, with a significant increase in armed clashes, primarily due to the renewed offensive of the AFC-M23 in North and South Kivu. According to the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a project by Ebuteli, 118 armed clashes were recorded in August, a 27% increase from 93 clashes in July.
The AFC-M23 was responsible for 56 of these clashes and took control of 22 new villages, mainly in the territories of Masisi and Kalehe. The group's activities led to a deterioration of the security situation in the region. The KST report, obtained by Radio Okapi on September 21, also documented a total of 216 security incidents in August, a 13% decrease from 247 incidents the previous month.
The KST report attributed 60 civilian deaths to the AFC-M23 in August, with several massacres targeting individuals accused of spying on the group's positions or belonging to rival armed groups. The report also noted that the ADF remains the most deadly group against civilians in Ituri, with 14 attacks resulting in 72 deaths and 64 kidnappings, mainly in the Mambasa territory.
In addition to the AFC-M23 and ADF activities, the KST report documented clashes between the FARDC and the Convention pour la révolution populaire (CRP) in the Djugu territory, which had been inactive for several months. Several fights were reported in different villages of the territory. The Codeco group, however, remained relatively inactive, with only a few isolated incidents.
The report also noted that 15 civilians were killed by regular forces in August, compared to eight in July. These deaths were mainly related to combat and, in some cases, individual homicides committed by military personnel. The KST data covers the Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.
The security situation in eastern DRC remains volatile, with various armed groups operating in the region. The KST report highlighted the need for continued monitoring and analysis of the security situation to understand the dynamics of the conflict and identify potential hotspots.
The renewed offensive by the AFC-M23 and the continued activities of other armed groups in the region have raised concerns about the humanitarian situation and the protection of civilians. The DRC government and international partners have been urged to take steps to address the root causes of the conflict and protect civilians.
Key points
- The number of armed clashes in eastern DRC increased by 27% in August, mainly due to the AFC-M23's renewed offensive.
- The AFC-M23 was responsible for 60 civilian deaths in August, with several massacres targeting individuals accused of spying on the group's positions or belonging to rival armed groups.
- The security situation in eastern DRC remains volatile, with various armed groups operating in the region, including the AFC-M23, ADF, and Codeco.
