A shocking incident in Kitindi, Shabunda Territory, has ignited widespread outrage after Wazalendo militia fighters allegedly humiliated and brutalized a divorced woman and her new husband in front of a large crowd.
According to local accounts, the woman was arrested following accusations by her ex-husband, who bribed the rebels to punish the two new lovers as revenge.
The Wazalendo also detained her new spouse, before forcing him to have sexual relations with his wife publicly as a form of punishment.
Witnesses described the scene as degrading and inhumane, leaving the community shaken.
Disturbing video footage later showed the woman tied up with her hands bound tightly behind her back as she cried out for mercy. “Father, pardon me… father, forgive me,” she pleaded, her voice breaking, but the militia showed no compassion.
The images have circulated widely, sparking condemnation from local residents who denounced the militia’s actions as a blatant violation of human dignity and an example of the lawlessness gripping eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This is a grotesque abuse of power and a complete collapse of justice. No woman should be treated this way,” said one resident of Kitindi. “These men are barbaric.”
The incident has also renewed scrutiny of President Félix Tshisekedi’s reliance on the Wazalendo – local self-defense groups mobilized to support the Congolese army against armed insurgents.
Critics warn that such alliances, while intended to bolster security, have instead emboldened militias to act with impunity.
Residents in South Kivu are calling for urgent investigations, accountability for those responsible, and greater protection for civilians caught between militias and state forces.
“The government cannot claim to be building peace while entrusting it to groups that brutalize the very citizens they are meant to protect,” said another villager in Shabunda.
As the video continues to spark outrage both nationally and abroad, the incident underscores the deepening crisis of governance and security in eastern Congo, raising urgent questions about the state’s ability – and willingness – to protect its people.