Walikale Territory, in North Kivu Province, has once again fallen into a climate of deep fear and severe insecurity following reports that began circulating on the night of Wednesday into Thursday, December 18, claiming that the FDLR armed group had received new support from South Kivu Province.
These reports triggered panic among residents of the Busurungi area, located in the Waloa Loanda Grouping, forcing many to flee their homes in fear and seek refuge in areas considered relatively safer, particularly Hombo. Most fled during the night, carrying whatever they could, while others left empty-handed, driven solely by the instinct to survive.
According to information from local authorities, the surge in fear was fueled by rumors that FDLR fighters coming from Kalehe in South Kivu were heading toward the Kamatembe area to support their allies engaged in fighting with the Mai Mai Kifuafua armed group, which has been active in various parts of Walikale in recent days.
The Executive Secretary of the Waloa Loanda Grouping, speaking to the media, confirmed that a large number of residents had left Busurungi for Hombo in search of relatively better security than in their usual places of residence. He said fear continues to grow by the hour, largely due to the painful history the local population has experienced with the FDLR.
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The same information also indicates that Mai Mai Kifuafua fighters withdrew from the Nyarambwe area, where heavy fighting had taken place on Wednesday afternoon, raising concerns that clashes could spread to other densely populated civilian areas.
Residents who spoke to journalists said they have little confidence in their security, especially amid reports that the FDLR could once again enter areas close to towns and heavily populated villages. Some expressed that the presence of FARDC troops alone is insufficient, calling for the deployment of more soldiers equipped with adequate resources.
The local authority publicly urged that FARDC troops stationed in Busurungi be urgently reinforced to prevent FDLR fighters from entering the town and nearby residential areas. He also called for continuous patrols to avert any surprise attacks.
Residents of Busurungi say the wounds of the past remain fresh in their minds. They recall that in 2012, the FDLR carried out mass killings in the area, during which many civilians were brutally murdered, others fled permanently, families were torn apart, homes were burned, and livelihoods were severely destroyed.
To this day, those memories remain a bitter lesson. As a result, whenever the name FDLR is mentioned, residents choose to flee rather than wait to determine whether the information is true or merely rumors. Many say it is better to take preventive action than to wait and risk being harmed.
The situation in Walikale adds to the broader picture of persistent insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the proliferation of armed groups continues to trap civilians in conflicts they did not choose.
As things stand, Walikale remains gripped by fear. Some residents spend their nights on alert, while others continue to live as internally displaced persons, waiting to see whether security will be restored or whether they will remain refugees within their own country.
