Ruptly
"Economic and social activity across the city of Beni ground to a near halt on Thursday as residents and business owners observed a 'ghost town' shutdown in protest against worsening insecurity and escalating armed attacks in eastern DRC. Footage shows residents moving through the city, with schools empty and rows of shuttered shops, as businesses, banks and transport services suspended operations following calls from citizen movements and civil society groups. "We didn't work today to protest the ongoing violence in the two provinces of North Kivu and Ituri," said local shopkeeper Pascal Kakule, adding that residents were angered by reports of killings and insecurity across the region. "What is happening in Beni deserves everyone's attention, including ours - the people and the government. We have no other way to mourn our loved ones except by doing what we did today," added Jean Mangapi, an activist with LUCHA Beni. Activists also accused the international community of failing to prevent continued violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite years of international involvement and mediation. "The international community is complicit in our misfortune," claimed Balewa Christian. "The international community works with our government, but when it comes to the security situation in the country, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri, there is no visible action on the ground." "They are very active when it comes to exploiting our minerals, but when it comes to security, they are nowhere to be seen," he asserted. The mobilisation reportedly took place under heightened security deployment, with police and military forces stationed at key locations across the city centre. It comes a day after another attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) reportedly killed several people overnight between May 13 and 14 in the Babila-Babombi area, according to local media. Clashes continue in eastern DRC despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States and an accompanying economic agreement. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 movement, an allegation Kigali denies."
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