The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) of MONUSCO destroyed several explosive remnants of war on August 18 in the town of Bule, located in Djugu Territory, Ituri Province. The operation eliminated a direct threat to civilians while also strengthening community awareness of the dangers posed by mines and other explosive remnants of war.
Three explosive devices discovered by returning residents
The devices that were neutralized had been discovered the previous week in Bule’s commercial center by residents gradually returning to their homes after spending nearly nine months at the displacement site in Plaine Savo.
Following the report of these dangerous objects, MONUSCO peacekeepers secured the area to prevent any incident while awaiting the arrival of demining specialists. On August 17, the UNMAS team from Bunia traveled to the site to safely carry out the destruction of the devices.
The intervention removed a major threat to residents of this community, which has been severely affected by armed conflict. The violence has left explosive remnants scattered throughout the area, exposing civilians to potentially devastating explosions.
MONUSCO’s action was welcomed by residents of Bule, who were aware of the danger posed by explosives left behind after the fighting.
“We thank MONUSCO for this action and we are very happy, because some of these explosive devices had become lodged in the wall of a house. We thank God for the work you have just done by removing them,” said Etienne Mandje, a businessman from Bule.
According to local sources, other explosive remnants of war may still be present in the town, which has been the scene of intense clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and armed groups in recent months.
In response, traditional authorities and residents are calling for broader demining operations in Bule to ensure the long-term safety of this community of more than 50,000 people and to facilitate the safe return of displaced populations. Local officials believe that comprehensive clearance remains essential to eliminate all remaining explosive threats in the area.
Raising awareness to prevent accidents
In addition to destroying the explosive devices, the UNMAS team conducted awareness sessions for the local population. Residents were informed about the safe behavior to adopt when encountering suspicious objects, particularly the importance of not touching or handling them and of immediately alerting the relevant security services.
This preventive approach is essential in a province where explosive remnants of war continue to pose a permanent threat to civilians.
Explosive devices are regularly reported in several localities in Djugu and Irumu territories, where armed violence has persisted for several years. In this context, demining operations and awareness campaigns conducted by MONUSCO and its partners play an important role in protecting civilians and supporting stabilization efforts in Ituri Province.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
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Ituri: United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) destroys explosive remnants of war in Bule
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