Mob Go Wild, Stone & Burn Two Women To DEATH In Broad Daylight, See What They Allegedly Did
In a disturbing and tragic incident, two elderly women were subjected to a brutal attack in the eastern province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday night. The women, aged 60 and 65, were accused of practicing witchcraft and allegedly causing the deaths of several individuals in their village of Nyamutiri, as reported by local sources.
According to Andre Byaduniya, a leader of a civil society group in the area, the women were targeted by enraged villagers who held them responsible for recent deaths in the community. They were forcibly taken to a public square where they were mercilessly stoned and set on fire. Byaduniya attempted to intervene but was met with threats from the violent mob.
Timothee Bakanirwa, an official from the neighboring region of Kalehe, mentioned that despite alerts to the police and army, they were unable to reach the village in time to save the women. He strongly condemned the heinous act as a violation of human rights and called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those involved.
The tragic deaths of these women have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation both within the DRC and internationally. Nelly Adidja from the Association of Women in Media (AFEM) highlighted that this incident is part of a troubling pattern of violence against women accused of witchcraft in South Kivu. She emphasized the urgent need for authorities and society to protect women’s rights, combat harmful beliefs, and prevent such atrocities.
Accusations of witchcraft leading to violence are unfortunately not uncommon in parts of the DRC and other central African countries due to factors like poverty, ignorance, superstition, and social conflicts. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly often become targets of scapegoating and persecution.
Reports from Unicef reveal that numerous children in the DRC have been accused of witchcraft, abandoned, or mistreated by their own families and communities. Some churches and pastors exploit these fears for financial gain by performing exorcisms on children.
Efforts by the DRC government and civil society groups to address witchcraft accusations and related violence include
awareness campaigns, education. initiatives, legal reforms, and support for victims. However, overcoming this
challenge remains daunting as the country continues to recover from years
of conflict, instability, poverty, and underdevelopment affecting millions of
its citizens.
