On Saturday, June 7, 2025, armed groups affiliated with the DRC government clashed with M23, and a few hours later, they went to destroy infrastructure, including the Lemera tea factory in the Kalehe Territory in South Kivu province. Not only did they destroy it, but this group, which was formed by the Wazalendo group, also looted it.
Laverite.rw has received information that among the items stolen by the Wazalendo group were some of the factory’s key equipment used in tea processing. Among the stolen equipment were tea harvesting machines, dryers, tea processing machines, and other equipment used in tea processing and a truck that transports the tea to different locations.
Some residents who worked in the factory said they lost their jobs, meaning some became unemployed after the looting. There are reports that some residents who worked in the factory have started moving elsewhere to find work. The factory was a major source of income for 100 families.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a continuing conflict between armed groups, especially the war between the Congolese government forces and the AFC/M23. Meanwhile, the people of Banyamurenge continue to be severely affected. Some residents of Lemera in the Kalehe Territory have requested that concrete measures be put in place to ensure their security and ensure a stable and smooth development process.
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Flex Antoine Tshisekedi, is silent on the people of this country who continue to be killed every day.
