On Thursday, August 14, the city of Kindu awoke to intense fighting between Wazalendo militias and the Congolese security forces.
The clashes, pitting Wazalendo fighters against the FARDC forces that normally work together in the fight against M23 began in the Tokolote area of Mikelenge Commune. The gunfire created widespread panic and brought daily life to a standstill across large parts of the city.
The exact death toll remains unknown, but videos circulating on social media showed three bodies lying on the ground, including that of a police officer. Other reports suggest between five and ten people may have been killed, although no official figure has been released, according to Actualite.cd.
Sources from the area indicate that the fighting started in Katako, the headquarters of the Bangengele chiefdom, about seven kilometers from Kindu. It is reported that Wazalendo fighters stationed there had begun forcibly demanding food from local residents.
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This behavior prompted intervention by a police officer manning the Katako checkpoint, triggering a confrontation. In Tokolote, where the gunfire first broke out, residents immediately took shelter in their homes. In the city center, markets closed abruptly, streets emptied, and tensions escalated.
Gunfire was reportedly heard for several hours, making Kindu feel like a war zone. Calm only began to return in the early afternoon, although tensions remained high.
