Karisimbi youth council demands protection after Kasika killing

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.

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A wider pattern of fear, residents say