Mob Kills, Burns Referee in DR Congo, Sparking National Outrage

Patrick Ngalamulume, a respected football referee known locally as “Ngalas,” was lynched and set ablaze by a mob in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in a horrifying act that has sent shockwaves through the region. The 36-year-old was accused of theft—a claim that came without any evidence—and was brutally killed in the Irambo neighbourhood between the night of May 5 and the early hours of May 6.

According to reports from Africa Soccer, the attack unfolded in full view of residents, as Ngalamulume was savagely beaten and then set on fire. Emergency responders failed to arrive in time to save him, underscoring the deepening crisis in a region where law enforcement remains dangerously absent. The killing has reignited urgent conversations about insecurity, mob justice, and the growing erosion of public trust in the state’s institutions.

Ngalamulume was a prominent figure in Bukavu’s football community, known for his fairness and dedication under the Bukavu Urban Football Association (EUFBUK). His death marks a devastating loss for local sport and a stark reminder of the dangers facing even the most respected figures in an increasingly unstable eastern Congo.

Mob justice has become a disturbing trend across cities like Bukavu and Goma, as residents—frustrated by the lack of police protection and judicial accountability—take the law into their own hands. The influence of armed rebel groups such as M23 has only intensified the sense of insecurity, contributing to a climate where extrajudicial killings are on the rise.

Community leaders, sports officials, and civil society organisations have condemned the killing, demanding an independent investigation and the urgent restoration of law and order. “The government must act. This level of barbarity cannot become a norm,” said one local official, echoing the grief and anger felt across the country.