An aid worker has died from gunshot wounds in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as violence escalates in the region. Jerry Muhindo Kavali, 49, was injured when a stray bullet struck the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) office in Masisi, where he was working.
Kavali was rushed to a hospital in Goma for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. His colleagues described him as a dedicated humanitarian who always carried a smile. His death has sparked outrage among aid workers striving to assist thousands of displaced Congolese civilians.
“Even war has its rules,” MSF said in response to the incident.
Masisi has been at the center of fierce clashes between militias allied with the Congolese army and rebels from the M23 and Alliance Fleuve Congo groups. The bullet that killed Kavali was one of many to hit the MSF compound in recent weeks, according to MSF’s head of programs, Stephan Goetghebuer.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo has persisted for over three decades, fueled by competition for mineral resources and longstanding regional tensions. The M23 rebels, believed to have Rwandan support, have captured key territories, including parts of Goma and Bukavu, and continue to advance.
On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned the M23 offensive and urged Rwanda to halt its alleged backing of the group. The U.S. also imposed sanctions on M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka and Rwandan minister James Kabarebe over their alleged involvement in the conflict.
With the situation worsening, experts warn of broader instability across East Africa.
