Esther Imonmion
Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Uvira, South Kivu, on Monday to demand the removal of General Olivier Gasita Mukunda, recently appointed deputy commander of the 33rd military region of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
The demonstration, organized by civil society groups, denounced Gasita’s alleged links with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who briefly seized the city of Bukavu in February. Protesters accused the officer of collaborating with the insurgents during that offensive.
“We were sent an officer we do not agree with, General Olivier Gasita. He has a very bad track record in Bukavu,” protester Dunia Prince told Africanews. “He does not have the trust of the people, which is why together with the population, we have stood up to demand his removal.”
Waving banners and national flags, demonstrators marched peacefully through the city, chanting anti-Gasita slogans before delivering a memorandum to local authorities addressed to President Félix Tshisekedi.
Mapenzi Manyebwa, president of the Uvira Civil Society Synergy, warned that Gasita’s appointment could signal government willingness to “hand over the city to the rebels.”
The march, monitored by police and army units, was largely peaceful until security forces fired warning shots while dispersing the crowd, triggering panic. Civil society groups reported at least four deaths and several injuries, though these figures have not been confirmed by local authorities.
The FARDC had appealed for calm over the weekend, rejecting claims of manipulation and reaffirming its support for General Gasita.