GOMA, Congo — A brutal assault by militia fighters has resulted in the deaths of at least 55 civilians in a series of attacks on several villages and a camp for internally displaced persons in northeastern Congo, according to local officials on Tuesday.
The eastern regions of the country have experienced escalating violence for years, with over 120 armed groups actively engaged in conflict, primarily over land and control of mineral-rich areas. While some factions claim to protect local communities, the fighting continues to escalate, leading to widespread suffering.
The victims were targeted on Monday night in the Djaiba village cluster, which hosts the camp for displaced individuals, as noted by Antoinnette Nzale, the camp’s leader. Although she reported 55 civilian deaths, she indicated that the actual toll may be significantly higher as recovery operations continue to unearth more bodies from the destroyed structures.
The militia responsible, known as CODECO, comprises various armed factions predominantly from the Lendu ethnic farming community. Their assaults have reportedly led to nearly 1,800 fatalities and over 500 injuries over the past four years, as documented by the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism.
The United Nations has indicated that some actions by these militias may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. “The entire village faced a ruthless attack,” Nzale stated, confirming that U.N. peacekeepers, along with Congolese government forces, were unable to gain control due to being outnumbered by the assailants.
Jean Richard Lenga, the chief of the Bahema Badjere district where the incidents occurred, corroborated the attack and noted that at least 38 individuals lost their lives. He, too, believed the number of fatalities is likely to rise as further bodies are being recovered.
According to Mumbere David, a local resident, many of the victims were displaced individuals who fell to machete and gunfire during the violent assault.
Earlier in September, CODECO fighters were also responsible for the deaths of at least 20 civilians in the nearby Djugu territory, which was similarly affected by the recent onslaught.
The conflict in eastern Congo intensified last month when rebels, reportedly supported by Rwanda, captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, located approximately 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Ituri province.
