In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, UN peacekeepers found mass graves with 49 civilians killed during a patrol. In preparation, attacks by alleged militias were reported in the region.
UN peacekeepers found mass graves with 49 dead civilians in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Twelve women and six children were among the dead, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on Wednesday. Soldiers discovered the graves in Nyamamba and Mbogi villages during a patrol in Ituri province after attacks by suspected Codeco militias were reported there.
Haq called for an investigation to see if there was a link between the attacks and the mass graves. The UN mission MONUSCO supports “the Congolese judicial system in investigating the attacks and demands that the perpetrators be held accountable”, he emphasized.
Repeated militia attacks
In Ituri, on the Ugandan border, there have been repeated attacks by Codeco militia in recent weeks. The militia is considered an armed political-religious sect that claims to defend the interests of the Lendu ethnic group. It is considered the most violent group in the region and is responsible for numerous attacks.
According to human rights activist Dieudonne Lossa, more than 80 civilians have been killed in the province since the beginning of January. UN spokesman Haq warned of a “significant deterioration in the security situation” in the region.
(APA/AFP)