At Least 69 Killed by Rebel Fighters in Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo

At least 69 people have been killed in an attack by armed rebels in Ituri province, northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to security officials, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) militia group carried out the attacks on April 28. The violence follows a previous assault by another armed group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP), which claims to fight for the Hema community.

The CRP had attacked positions held by the Congolese army (FARDC) near Pimbo earlier in the month. CODECO fighters then launched retaliatory attacks in late April, resulting in over 70 deaths, including 19 militia members and soldiers. The presence of CODECO fighters delayed the recovery of bodies for several days.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) reported that nearly 200 people were rescued from the CRP assault on the FARDC. On Saturday, MONUSCO condemned the recent wave of deadly attacks targeting civilians in the region.

The conflict in Ituri province has been ongoing for over 30 years, with various armed groups vying for control of its mineral resources. The Hema and Lendu ethnic groups have been locked in a long-running violent conflict in the gold-rich province.

Civil society leader Dieudonne Losa described the killings as a “massacre”, urging his community to avoid retaliation. The Ente association, representing the Hema community, also condemned the attacks, calling them a “massacre”. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group formed by former Ugandan rebels, has pledged allegiance to ISIL (ISIS) and is also active in the region.

The Congolese government faces challenges in protecting civilians in the region, with multiple armed groups operating in the area. Security forces are overstretched responding to threats from various groups, leaving areas vulnerable to attacks.

Source: Al Jazeera