5 killed after an altercation between police and military in DR Congo

At least five people were killed on Monday in a violent altercation between police officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in Kingwangala, in the Kasongolunda territory of Kwango province. The victims include four civilians and one soldier.

According to Apollinaire Yumba, the provincial deputy elected from Kasongolunda, the tragedy stemmed from a misunderstanding between the two security services. A soldier opened fire, apparently intending to shoot a police officer, but the bullet struck a woman instead. The incident sparked an angry reaction from local residents, resulting in the death of one soldier and three additional civilians.

“Faced with this serious situation, I call for urgent intervention by the competent authorities to restore calm, secure the population and their property, prevent any further violence, and shed full light on the circumstances of these events,” Yumba said.

The FARDC confirmed the incident but has not yet released an official death toll. The spokesperson for the 11th Military Region described it as a case in which “a soldier reportedly opened fire on civilians, creating a worrying situation among the population.”

Captain Anthony Mualushayi announced that a team had been urgently dispatched to apprehend the soldier involved and hand him over to the judicial authorities. The army stated that “the figures related to this incident will be communicated at the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, after verification and establishment of the facts.”

The episode has heightened tensions in the area, prompting calls for rapid measures to restore security and prevent further unrest.