Rebel fighters kill at least 69 people in northeastern DR Congo
At least 69 civilians have been killed in attacks by CODECO militia groups in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials fear the death toll could rise further.
At least 69 civilians have been killed in a series of attacks on villages in the Ituri province of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, carried out by CODECO ethnic militia groups, according to Congolese security officials. Rescue teams have not yet been able to reach about ten villages where survivors are reportedly trapped under debris.
Ituri has been racked for three years by fighting around its gold-mining areas. The UN refugee agency has said that more than 1.5 million people have been displaced inside the province in the past 12 months. Attacks have intensified as the multinational peacekeeping mission MONUSCO completes its phased withdrawal.
The government in Kinshasa announced that additional military units would be deployed to the area. Intelligence services in neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda assess that the attacks may be an attempt by CODECO to assert control over rival Lendu armed groups. International aid agencies have urgently called for safe corridors to deliver food and medical supplies.
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