Six travelers abducted on North Kivu road amid escalating insecurity

The security situation in North Kivu, eastern Congo, continues to deteriorate as at least six travelers were abducted by armed men on the Kiwanja-Kanyabayonga road. The incident occurred Friday afternoon in Mabenga, a stretch of the national road currently under the control of the AFC/M23 group. The victims were traveling in a public transport minibus en route from Butembo to Goma. As of Saturday morning, their fate remained unknown. Other passengers were forced to abandon their belongings to the assailants before continuing their journey.

This latest abduction follows a series of similar security incidents in the region. On August 9, three people were kidnapped on the Vitshumbi road. Days prior, two motorcyclists were killed between Mabenga and Kiwanja, and three others were forcibly taken into the bush near Kahunga. Local civil society organizations express grave concern, reporting that at least fourteen people have fallen victim to road attacks attributed to bandits since the beginning of August.

These organizations are denouncing the persistent insecurity on the Goma-Butembo and Vitshumbi-Rwindi-Kibirizi routes. They are calling for the dismantling of the networks responsible for these attacks in the Virunga National Park area. The ongoing violence highlights the challenges in maintaining safety and stability for civilians traveling through this conflict-affected region.