Security in Uvira not as “bad” portrayed

The security in Uvira, eastern DRC is not as bad as it has been portrayed, a resident of Uvira told IRIN on Wednesday. “There is nothing happening in Uvira now that is more serious than what it has been in the past. It is relatively quiet,” he said. According to the source, people who were arrested by the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) authorities have been released. “The arrests were not directly linked to the fact that these people did not attend RCD-Goma anniversary celebrations at the beginning of the month as reported,” he said. “Most happened because of confusion and rumours,” he said. “In one incident, rumours spread that soldiers were coming to arrest the youth who had not attended the celebrations. When these youth heard that, they went hiding, unfortunately, they went near at military position. The soldiers saw a group of people hiding, called them, but the youth started running. Soldiers shot at them killing one youth,” he explained.

“In yet another incident, residents heard gun shots from armed group [Mayi Mayi] and there was a stampede. Many people were injured and some of them are still in hospital,” he said. The authorities arrested the wife of a truck businessman who is linked to the Mayi Mayi tribal warriors in an attempt to trace her husband, “but she has been released”. There are movements by the Interahamwe and the Mayi Mayi in the area, the source said. “The Interahamwe attack villages as they move and the Mayi Mayi want to be heard,” he said. “They say: we are not considered as a political party or as an armed group,” he noted. The Mayi Mayi have been asked to either join the government or RCD.