Dozens killed in militia violence in DR Congo’s Ituri province
A deadly militia attack in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, has left at least 69 people dead, according to local and security sources. The violence is linked to ongoing conflict between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups, with attacks carried out by the Codeco militia. The region has long suffered from clashes between armed groups fighting for control of mineral-rich territories. Humanitarian agencies report a worsening crisis, with bodies still being recovered and many people displaced.
What we know
- At least 69 people were killed in a militia attack in Ituri province, according to local and security sources.
- Armed men affiliated with the Codeco militia attacked several villages on April 28, targeting the Lendu community.
- The attacks followed an earlier assault by the Convention for the Popular Revolution, which fights for the Hema community.
- The United Nations’ mission in the DRC said on April 30 it rescued nearly 200 people caught under fire from the CRP assault.
- Civil society leader Dieudonne Losa and other sources confirmed the high death toll and ongoing difficulties in recovering bodies.
