Many cases of attacks have been reported to the LBGT Centre and Friends of Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko (RSM) to Bukavu. Sources close to the centre say the attacks were carried out by unknown assailants, largely during february and march 2021.
Chancard Bahati, program manager at RSM, denounces attacks on the activities of the centre that supervises « sexual minorities ». He affirms that the kind of attacks were directed against the centre with the aim of dispersing LBGT communities; through the destabilization of their organizations.
«Aggressive acts increased in February and March. They are fuelled by dominant policies aimed at dispersing LGBT communities and destabilizing their organizations. On 12 March 2021, at around 5 p.m, the Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko and Friends to the Bukavu centre was attacked by bandits; and they savagely ransacked and robbed everything. They destroyed all the goods, including furniture and HIV prevention tools; STI drugs, computer tools and other valuables. All this under the complicity of some Police officers, » he said.
Our source reports that all databases that could be used as advocacy for the centre, have been damaged. Among them, CDVs Intra.
Lets remember that the LGBT Centre serve as a place of access to the information, education and leisure service, capable of strengthening the capacity and skills of LBGT people, in prevention of sexual transmission of STIs, HIV AIDS, in the Ibanda health zone. The centre is frequented by « sexual minorities », to provide access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS and STIs.
The program officer at RSM says he regret that LBGT communities are currently in difficulty accessing the services provided by the centre, after these attacks and burglaries.
Bertin Bulonza