Official: Gunmen Kill Over 35 Civilians in Eastern Congo
A village leader said on Tuesday that gunmen killed more than 35 civilians during an attack on several villages in the Ituri province of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday evening.
Jean Viani, leader of the Djiba village group in the Djugu area, stated that militants from the Codeco militia carried out the attack, which began around 8 p.m., executing residents and setting houses on fire.
“We counted more than 35 dead this morning, and searches are still ongoing. Some people are injured, and many burned to death inside their homes,” Viani said.
Jules Tsupa, a local civil society leader, reported that 49 bodies had been counted as of Tuesday morning, adding that searches were still underway.
The Codeco militia is one of many armed groups fighting for land and resources in eastern Congo. The United Nations has previously accused it of carrying out attacks against other populations, including Hema pastoralists, in what could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The majority of residents in the Djugu area are Hema.
“The victims belong to the Hema ethnic group,” Viani added, noting that Congolese soldiers and UN peacekeeping forces stationed about three kilometers away did not intervene.
Neither the Congolese army nor the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) has responded to requests for comment.
