In the war-torn east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the failure of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) to retake the town of Kibirizi from rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) has left civilians at the mercy of the insurgents. The M23, backed by the Rwandan Army, has been launching attacks on the population after the FARDC withdrew from Kibirizi.
Innocent Kasereka, a victim of the conflict, described how he was attacked by individuals in M23 uniform despite assurances of safety. The failure of the FARDC has left civilians vulnerable, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of the Army in protecting the population from rebel violence.