DRC: Gunmen kill priest in Masisi (North Kivu) April 8

Event

On Sunday, April 8, several armed men killed a Catholic priest in the town of Masisi (North Kivu). According to the Goma diocese, the assailants were likely members of a Maï-Maï militia.

This incident comes shortly after a similar abduction case also in North Kivu, in which unidentified gunmen kidnapped a Catholic priest near the town of Karambi on April 1. The assailants reportedly demanded a USD 500,000 ransom for his release. According to local sources, the priest was freed on Thursday, April 5, though it is unclear if a ransom was paid.

Context

The government's limited presence in the DRC's eastern provinces, including North Kivu, as well as the presence of numerous armed groups and local self-defense militias (Maï-Maï militias) have led to continued insecurity in the area. In 2017, North and South Kivu provinces recorded an increase in armed group activities. Humanitarian organizations have stated that security conditions in the Kivu regions present a major obstacle to delivering humanitarian assistance to those in need, as kidnappings, including of Congolese and foreign aid workers, are frequent in the area.

Advice

Those present in North Kivu are advised to monitor the situation and to maintain contact with their home governments (adhere to any official directives).

More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country due to poor security conditions, including the presence of armed groups and a high risk of kidnapping. Professional security advice should be sought prior to travel.