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This massacre follows a CODECO attack in September, where at least 20 civilians were killed in Djugu, within the same Ituri territory
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Ituri, DRC – Militia fighters killed at least 55 civilians in a brutal attack on a cluster of villages and a camp for displaced people in northeastern Congo, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The attack, carried out by armed men from the CODECO militia, targeted the Djaiba group of villages in Ituri province on Monday night, according to Antoinnette Nzale, leader of the local displaced persons' camp. Nzale warned that the death toll could rise as bodies continue to be recovered from the charred remains of houses.
Ongoing violence in Eastern Congo
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been plagued by violence for decades, with over 120 armed groups fighting for land, mineral resources, and community protection. CODECO—the Cooperative for the Development of Congo—is a notorious militia predominantly made up of members of the Lendu ethnic farming community. Between 2018 and 2022, its attacks resulted in nearly 1,800 deaths and over 500 injuries, according to the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism.
The United Nations has stated that some of CODECO’s attacks may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Security forces overwhelmed
Nzale described the scale of destruction, saying: “Almost the entire village was attacked.” She added that MONUSCO, the U.N. peacekeeping force, and Congolese government troops responded but were overpowered by the attackers.
Jean Richard Lenga, chief of Bahema Badjere district, confirmed the attack, initially reporting 38 deaths but acknowledging that the number would likely rise. Most of the victims, including displaced persons, were killed with machetes and firearms, according to Mumbere David, a resident of Djaiba.
A pattern of brutal attacks
This latest massacre follows a CODECO attack in September, where at least 20 civilians were killed in Djugu, within the same Ituri territory.
Meanwhile, broader regional instability continues to escalate. Last month, Rwanda-backed rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, approximately 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Ituri, further complicating efforts to restore peace.
Authorities and humanitarian organizations are now calling for urgent international intervention to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.
Source: African News
