Ahead of a crucial general election on Sunday, hundreds of people have been reportedly killed in a violent clash in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The killings which occurred this week were sparked by fighting between rival ethnic groups in the area.
DR Congo officials confirmed the deaths on Wednesday saying the fighting in Mai-Ndombe province is one of the worst to hit the community.
A local activist told Reuters that the fighting between the Batende and Banunu ethnic groups broke out “over the disputed location of a Banunu chief’s burial”.
The said local activist Jules Bango was quoted as saying that “Today (Wednesday) we have identified almost 120 deaths, and there are 71 others wounded in the hospital.”
Many residents of the community reportedly fled the area as a result of the conflict. There are concerns of potential violence during Sunday’s elections which have been delayed for years.
Crucial elections
Sunday’s vote could be the first time DR Congo will witness a peaceful transfer of power through an election.
The ruling party of President Joseph Kabila has picked former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary for the presidential race.
His biggest challenge is expected to come from the opposition which has formed an alliance to pick a unified candidate.
Businessman and lawmaker Martin Fayulu is that representative for the opposition coalition in the presidential race.
But the opposition is seen as fractured since not all opposition candidates back him.
No Kabila
The DR Congo will be going to the polls this weekend without incumbent President, Joseph Kabila whose tenure has already ended.
President Kabila’s second term officially ended in 2016 but he refused to stepdown sparking violence and delayed elections.
Kabila’s inability to run again could ease tension a little in the Central African country. Joseph Kabila took over as president from his father Laurent who was assassinated in 2001.
Source: Africafeeds.com
