Armed Militants Attack Villages In Congo, Dozens Killed

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

Armed militants killed more than 35 civilians in attacks on a number of villages in the province of Ituri, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Head of the Djaiba village group in the Djugu region, Jean Vianney, said CODECO militants carried out an attack, which began around 8 p.m., by executing residents and burning houses.

We counted more than 35 people killed this morning and the search is still ongoing. There were injured, many were burned to death in their homes," he said.

Local civil society leader Jules Tsuba said that so far there were 49 victims' bodies. The search for other victims is still ongoing.

CODECO is one of many militiamen fighting for land and resources in eastern Congo.

The United Nations accuses them of carrying out attacks on other communities including Hema herders who can be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity. The majority of the population in the Djugu region is Hema.

"The victims came from the Hema community," Vianney said.

He said Congo's army and UN peacekeeping forces stationed about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) did not intervene.