Thursday, April 3, 2025
Alison Marsh
M23 Rebels Accused of Killing Local Leader Mr Baeni Safari in Masisi
Community leaders in Masisi, North Kivu, have accused the M23 rebels, supported by the Rwandan army, of killing a well-known local man in a brutal way. The victim, Baeni Safari, was reportedly shot dead on Sunday, March 29, in the village of Kahira, part of the Bashali Mukoto group.
According to Radiookapi, the M23 fighters attacked an area on Saturday that was once used by the Alliance of Congolese Nationalists for the Defense of Human Rights (ANCDH) — a group led by Jean-Marie Bonane.
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During the fighting, Baeni Safari was killed. Local sources believe the rebels murdered him because they suspected him of working with Bonane's fighters.
Civil society actors say this type of violence is common in the region. Many local people have been targeted by rebels for allegedly collaborating with the Congolese army or local armed groups, whether or not there is proof.
Keep following XTRAfrica for more news and updates from conflict zones across the DRC.
