By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Two armed men in military uniform shot and killed a staff member of MSF International in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the second such incident in two months in the country, the medical charity announced Thursday.
The incident occurred on April 18 in Masisi, North Kivu province involving a nurse at Masisi General Referral Hospital.
“We strongly condemn this terrible act, which cost our colleague his life, and which reflects the severely deteriorating security situation we have witnessed in North and South Kivu since the beginning of the year,” Emmanuel Lampaert, MSF’s country representative in Congo, said in a statement.
“Week after week, our teams are not only witnesses but also victims of violent incidents targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and medical facilities. This must stop immediately.”
According to the statement, the armed men, carrying assault rifles, first attacked and robbed civilians in Masisi town before breaking into the house of the MSF nurse to rob residents.
It was at this point that the attackers opened fire, fatally wounding the nurse with two shots to the chest.
Since early 2025, MSF said its teams have witnessed violent incidents on an almost daily basis and have been the victims on a number of occasions.
“In the space of four months, three MSF staff have been shot dead in North Kivu, either in the course of their work or as a result of violence against civilians,” it added.