Karisimbi youth council demands protection after Kasika killing

After a woman was shot dead in Kasika, Karisimbi’s youth council calls for protection and rejects claims used to justify the killing.

Published:

January 26, 2026 at 10:25:40 AM

Modified:

January 26, 2026 at 10:52:32 AM

Written By |

The Editorial Staff

The youth council of Karisimbi commune has called for stronger protection of civilians and property in Goma after a 54-year-old woman was shot dead at her home in the Kasika neighborhood, witnesses said. The killing, reported to have occurred around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 25, has fueled renewed concern over insecurity in the area as first reported by ACTUALITE.CD.

According to accounts cited by local witnesses, armed men wearing military-style fatigues allegedly broke into the home of Madame Chekasana Justine near the chapel of the 8th CEPAC Baraka and shot her at the scene.

In its reaction, the Karisimbi youth council condemned what it described as repeated violent incidents and appealed for measures that ensure residents can live safely and retain their property without fear.

Council rejects “justifications” circulated after the killing

The council also disputed claims circulating about the victim’s identity and behavior, saying some individuals linked to AFC/M23 were attempting to justify the shooting by alleging “without foundation,” in the council’s words that the woman was a thief or a cannabis user. The council described those claims as false and warned against narratives that appear to excuse lethal violence.

A wider pattern of fear, residents say

The council’s statement comes days after another killing in Goma. The article reports that, on Monday, January 19, a young man was murdered in the Virunga neighborhood, with responsibility attributed to an element of the AFC/M23 rebellion.

While details surrounding both incidents remain limited in the publicly available account, the council said the situation has left many young people feeling exposed to what it called “inhuman and degrading treatment” since AFC/M23 took control of Goma. It urged the armed group to stop what it described as “barbaric acts” and to respect human life.

Karisimbi is one of Goma’s communes in North Kivu, a province that has faced persistent instability linked to the broader conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.