Heavy street fighting broke out in the heart of Kindu, the capital of Maniema province, on Thursday, as rival armed groups Mayi-Mayi and Wazalendo clashed in broad daylight.
According to local reports, the violence began around 11:00 a.m. and quickly spread through several neighborhoods, paralyzing the city.
By 2:00 p.m., exchanges of gunfire were still being heard, with residents sheltering in their homes amid growing fear and uncertainty.
The clashes highlight the fragile grip of state authority in Kindu, a strategic provincial hub that has remained largely on the sidelines of the eastern Congo conflict until now.
The reasons behind Thursday’s fighting remain unclear, but the confrontation underscores deep tensions between local militias vying for influence.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, and it is not known whether security forces have intervened to restore order.
