Civil society groups in Uvira, South Kivu Province, are calling on authorities to strengthen security measures following a series of killings reported in the city.
The concern was renewed by Kelvin Bwija, head of civil society in Uvira, after a 70-year-old woman was killed inside her home in the Mulongwe neighbourhood.
According to residents and civil society sources, the woman was shot dead at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, by unidentified armed men. The motive for the killing remains unknown.
The latest incident came just two days after another resident, identified as Kiza Babatana, was killed in the Kalundu area on October 1.
Civil Society Calls for Stronger Security Measures
Kelvin Bwija has urged local authorities and security forces to take stronger measures to protect residents and their property, particularly in areas where insecurity and criminal activity remain a concern.
He called on authorities to do everything possible to restore public confidence in security and ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.
Civil society groups are also calling for additional measures to prevent and combat criminal activity in Uvira and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner General Lwimbo Handokya, who heads the police in Uvira, said security forces had launched operations to track down people suspected of involvement in the killings.
He said security operations were continuing with the aim of arresting those responsible and preventing further attacks on residents.
Authorities and security forces are being urged to work closely with local communities to identify threats and prevent further acts of violence that continue to raise concern in the city.