South-Kivu

Massacre in Rusabagi, in the territory of Uvira

On 24.08.2003, around 8 o’clock PM, the burundian milicious known as the « Front de National de Libération” (F.N.L.) commanded by Eugène Bitaryumunyu, massacred 19 persons and injured 9 others in Rusabagi, a village located at more or less 15 Km on the Eastern part of Sange,in the Ruzizi Valley. Among the victims there are 6 women and 6  children. After  this odious killing, the assailants set fire on more than ten houses in the village.

Here are names of the people who were killed :

1. Mr Kijame Daniel                        (+/- 70 years old)

2. Mrs Feza Kijame , épouse de Kijame Daniel    ( +/- 50 years old)

3. Mr Marcel                                   (65 years old) 

4. Mr Maisha                                  (12 years old)

5. Mr Simise Biherwa                      (11 years old)

6. Mr Manderine Bombo                  (62 years old)

7. Mr Magambo Mandereni

8. Miss Didile Magambo

9. Mr Losha Lawi                            (4 years old)

10. Miss Alphonise Lawi                   (2 years old)

11. Mrs Maman Philémon                 (30 years old)

12. Mrs Dorkasi                               (45 years old)

13. Mrs Anyasha Masera                 (21 years old)

14. Mrs Mapendo

15. Mr Ejamba Turofina

16. Mr Tuku 

17. Mr Ayumbi                                ( 67 years old)

18. Mrs Ayumbi, épouse de Mr Ayumbi ( 47 years old)

19. 1 child of one month old belonging to Mrs  Mapendo Limbe.

Those who were injured  :

1. Mrs Mapendo Limbe                      (21 years old)

2. Mr Shoka Limbe                            (18 years old)

3. Mr Bazira Limbe                            (14 years old)

4. Mrs Marie-Josée                            (40 years old)

5. Mrs Mambolewa                            (+/- 65 years old)

6. Mr Baleke Mwaju                           (+/- 50 years old)

7. Miss Jolie Lawi                              (8 years old)

8. Miss Salima Lawi                          (13 years old)

9. Miss Giditte                                  (8   years old)

Enquiries made in Rusabagi poved that this group of outlaw used side-arms in their killing operation.

In other respects, combattants of the former rebellion of R.C.D. based in Swima, in the territory of Fizi, commanded by Blaise, are accountable for many human rights abuses. On 09.08.2003, they killed two people whose names are: Úngaobe  Maombi et Shukuru Ishibupamba and threw their bodies near the Ngovi river.  After this horrible killing, they looted the village in a fallacious operation of searching for the Maï-Maï combattants.

Héritiers de la Justice condamns energetically the reoccurence of massacres of civilians in the Eastern part of the country in this period of transition, peacebuilding and reconstruction. It invites military authorities of R.C.D. to contemplate an expeditious action to the Rukoko (bastion of  these assailants) in order to dislodge these uncontrolled elements that have been terrorizing the people for years.

Also, Héritiers de la Justice request that  an investigation team be sent to Swima in order to determine the individual accountability of soldiers, of the R.C.D,  for the killing of people and looting of their belongings and punish them according to the law.

Héritiers de la Justice

 03. 09.  2003