Three kidnapped humanitarian workers in eastern DRC released

Three members of Caritas Congo, a Catholic humanitarian organization, who were kidnapped on Tuesday in ​​the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been released.

According to the communications officer of Caritas-Congo, Guy-Marin Kamandji, the three who were abducted near Goma had been released on Wednesday without specifying the circumstances surrounding their freedom.

On Tuesday, Kamandji announced the kidnapping which they suspected was perpetrated by the Hutu rebel group, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

“Two vehicles of the Caritas Congo ASBL were attacked at Misinga (situated 125 km northwest of Goma, capital of North Kivu) and three Congolese workers were kidnapped during the ambush,” he said.

“The other vehicle also came under fire but managed to turn back with all the occupants including a German photo-journalist who was wounded in the leg. The convoy was carrying neither money nor support,” he added.

Kamandji indicated that Congolese soldiers and peacekeepers had launched a search for the kidnapped three.

The FDLR militia, mainly scattered in North and South Kivu, is regularly accused of committing atrocities against civilians in areas under their control.