Militia Attacks in DR Congo Claim 69 Lives in Ituri

On April 28, 2023, militia attacks in Ituri Province, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, led to the deaths of at least 69 individuals, including 19 militia members, according to local security sources. The violence is linked to ongoing conflicts between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups over control of mineral-rich areas.

The CODECO militia, which claims to protect the Lendu community, carried out assaults on several villages. This incident followed an earlier attack by the armed group known as the Popular Revolutionary Army against Hema positions, resulting in 70 deaths.

Civil society leader Dieudonné Losa confirmed the death toll and noted that bodies were found strewn across the ground near the village of Bassa. The United Nations has reported nearly one million internally displaced people in the region due to ongoing violence, which has intensified humanitarian crises.

The Congolese Army condemned the recent attacks targeting civilians, emphasizing the need for protection and stability in the area.