- Title: Congolese government ups toll in massacre to 272 civilians, Goma holds vigil
- Date: 5th December 2022
- Summary: GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DECEMBER 5, 2022) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS SINGING AS THEY MARCH, ONE MAN WEARING DRC FLAG PROTESTERS SINGING WHILE WALKING IN LARGE CIRCLE WITH THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HEAD VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SINGING WHILE WALKING IN LARGE CIRCLE SOME CARRYING POSTERS SOME WITH THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HEAD / ONE IN A WHEELCHAIR
- Embargoed: 19th December 2022 23:04
- Keywords: 272 Civilians Candles DRC Democratic Republic of Congo FARDC Goma Kishishe M23 Massacre Vigil
- Location: GOMA AND KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- City: GOMA AND KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Topics: Africa,Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA001462605122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART QUALITY AS INCOMING
Dozens of young activists from the various citizen movements in Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, gathered on Monday (December 5) to commemorate the 272 civilians who were killed in a massacre in the eastern town of Kishishe last week.
The protesters sang songs, lit candles and danced in honour of the dead. Some held up posters calling for "justice for the victims of the massacre".
"We have come for a collective mourning because we are fed up. Since I was born, there has always been insecurity in the DRC. I grew up in continuous insecurity. So we are fed up," said Justin Saliki.
The government blamed the killings on the M23 rebel group, which has denied responsibility. It also said the rebels were backed by members of the Rwandan army, a frequent accusation by the Congolese government which Rwanda has consistently denied.
Rwandan authorities could not be reached for comment.
Congo's army and the M23, a Tutsi-led militia, have been locked in fighting for months in the country's east.
The alleged massacre occurred on Nov. 29 in Kishishe, in North Kivu province. The death toll was announced by Congolese industry minister Julien Paluku, speaking at a press briefing with government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.
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