DR Congo,South Kivu: 12,000 households displaced by civil war

Actualité.cd

October 21, 2026

Thousands of residents of Kaziba, in the territory of Walungu, in South Kivu fleeing clashes between the RFN and the FARDC supported by the wazalendo are traveling to neighboring chiefdoms and villages, local sources report. According to figures provided by local sources, more than 12,000 households have fled the fighting which has lasted for more than a week.

"The displaced are very numerous, more than 12,000 households", a local development organization based in Kaziba told ACTUALITE.CD.

The displaced are dispersed in different chiefdoms including Ngweshe in the territory of Walungu, Burhinyi and Luhwinja in the territory of Mwenga and Bafuliro in the territory of Uvira.

"Around 2,500 households have left the Kasheke health area. More than 3,000 households in the Kaziba center health area and more than 1,000 households fled clashes in the Kafindjo health area to seek shelter in neighboring chiefdoms in Bufulero, Luhwindja, Burhinyi, Ngweshe and others in the city of Bukavu", adds the source.

Clashes between the RFN and the army entered the Kaziba chiefdom on Tuesday on the 9th consecutive day, causing an alarming humanitarian situation within local communities.

Families trapped in this crisis fear for their safety, particularly women, children and the elderly. These displaced families need urgent protection, argues another community organization.

Since October 12, violent clashes have pitted RFN elements against the army supported by the wazalendo. Despite the multiple peace initiatives in the region, and internationally with the Doha and Washington processes, the belligerents on the ground are not observing the ceasefire, accentuating the humanitarian crisis in the east of the DRC.

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