Lugushwa paralyzed after youth killed by Wazalendo fighter in DR Congo

Socio-economic activities in Lugushwa, in the Mwenga territory of South Kivu, were paralyzed on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, following the murder of a young man named Safa during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

According to the local civil society, the victim was struck by two bullets fired by a Wazalendo fighter as he was returning from a screening of a Champions League match. The exact circumstances of the incident remain to be established. Wazalendo fighters are partners of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

In the aftermath of the killing, schools, shops, stores, and transport services halted operations in Lugushwa.

Angry residents took to the streets to denounce the insecurity they attribute to armed fighters deployed in the area, according to consistent testimonies. The situation remained tense, with young demonstrators hostile toward security services while FARDC troops attempted to contain the crowd. Warning shots were heard in Lugushwa and Mapale.

Alerted by his cries, neighbors rushed Safa to Mapale hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds despite medical care. A local notable feared tensions could escalate if the situation is not quickly brought under control, while market closures complicated household supplies amid fears of possible reprisals.

The murder has revived concerns over youth security in the region; last month, three young people were killed in Kaniola by M23 elements as they left a bar after a Champions League match, according to locally reported information.