DRC: “Dead city” protest planned in Beni June 5 /update 3

Event

Supporters of the LUCHA civil society group are planning to stage a "dead city" protest (total strike) in the town of Beni (North Kivu province), to mourn the 14 people killed during an attack overnight June 3-4 attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group, and have called for further protests to take place in the town in the coming days to force the authorities to take responsibility for the recurrent violence in the area. Heightened security presence is likely around any demonstration. Clashes between supporters and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Similar rebel attacks on civilians, are to be expected around Beni - the center of the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic - over the near term.

Context

Congolese military forces reportedly killed 26 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels near Beni (North Kivu province) on May 30.

The ADF is a Ugandan Islamist militant group that has been active in North Kivu province since the late 1990s. The group has also been blamed for attacks in neighboring Ituri province in recent months. There has been local and international speculation regarding potential links between ADF rebels and Islamic State (IS) militants, who have claimed multiple attacks in North Kivu province in recent weeks; IS has attributed such attacks to fighters from its "Central Africa Province."

Advice

Individuals in North Kivu province, notably in Beni, are advised to remain vigilant, avoid all protests due to the risk of violence and arrest, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.