Ambush on Oicha-Biakato Road Kills Two Civilians at Bahiti

Beni, North Kivu, August 1, 2026 - On the afternoon of July 31, an ambush occurred on the Oicha-Biakato road near Bahiti, resulting in the deaths of two civilians, Jeannot and his sister Solange, both residents of Biakato. The attack took place around 16:00 local time, when armed assailants targeted their vehicle. The driver, Kitsa Katembo, sustained serious injuries and was subsequently evacuated to the general hospital in Oicha for urgent medical treatment.

Local civil society representative Ram's Malikidogo has linked this incident to a previous attack in the Kasoko Mbopi area, where three individuals were killed and several homes were burned. Malikidogo has called for a thorough investigation into the ambush and emphasized the urgent need for enhanced security measures along the road to protect civilians. The ongoing violence in North Kivu continues to raise concerns about the safety of transportation routes in the region, as communities grapple with the threat posed by armed groups.