DR Congo: Caritas driver killed in road ambush

A driver for Caritas has been killed in a road ambush near Uvira in South Kivu. The incident occurred on March 25, when a Caritas vehicle in Uvira, taking the salaries of teachers in the Fizi Territory, was blocked near Lubumba bridge about 40 km from Uvira. The bandits forced the driver to get out of the vehicle before killing him with a shot to the head. He died while he was being transported to hospital.

The other passenger, the accounting officer of Caritas, was injured in the hand. She was then released by the bandits who stole 194 million Congolese francs.

The money was intended to pay the salaries of teachers in 201 primary and secondary schools in five towns of Fizi Territory.Under an agreement signed in 2011 between the Congolese government and Caritas Congo, the latter was appointed to oversee the payment of teachers salaries paid by the Ministry of Education.

According to Radio Okapi, which reported the news, this is the third assault on a vehicle of Caritas in the area within a year. The last one was in February, but had not had such dramatic consequences.

Listen to Radio Okapi here: http://radiookapi.radio.net/

Source: Fides/Radio Okapi