Over 20 Houses Destroyed in Kazumba Following Ethnic Conflict

Kinshasa, January 11, 2026 - Central | December 29, 2025

More than twenty homes were set ablaze overnight from Sunday to Monday in the village of Bena-Bilala, Kazumba Territory, according to local sources. The incident is linked to an ethnic conflict triggered by the death of a local resident.

The victim, Muyaya Mbombo, a man in his forties, died on Saturday after reportedly consuming excessive alcohol. His family, believing he had been murdered, retaliated by setting fire to surrounding homes, destroying more than twenty thatched houses and two corrugated iron structures, according to Jean-Carré Muyaya, coordinator of the New Congolese Society in Kazumba.

“This tragedy began with Muyaya Mbombo’s celebrations on December 25. Two days later, he drank excessively and died behind the houses of the villagers. His family assumed foul play and set fire to more than twenty houses,” explained Jean-Carré Muyaya.

Calm has been temporarily restored thanks to the intervention of the National Police, but many residents have fled to the bush, fearing further reprisals.

Local authorities are being urged to strengthen security in the area, and calls have been made for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The incident highlights a resurgence of insecurity in the region, fueled by misunderstandings and ethnic tensions.