Eastern Congo militia attack has left at least 69 people dead in Ituri province in the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Local officials and security sources confirmed that armed fighters linked to the Codeco militia carried out coordinated attacks on several villages on April 28.
The Eastern Congo militia attack is the latest in a long-running conflict that has plagued the mineral-rich eastern part of the country for more than three decades. Armed groups continue to battle for control of valuable mining areas, leaving civilians trapped in repeated waves of violence.
According to security sources, at least 69 people were killed during the assaults, though local civil protection official Dieudonne Losa said the death toll could be higher than 70. The bodies of many victims were not recovered immediately because insecurity in the area prevented rescue and recovery operations for several days.
The Codeco militia, also known as the Cooperative for the Development of Congo, claims to defend the Lendu ethnic community. The armed group has been repeatedly accused of deadly attacks against civilians in Ituri province, contributing to growing instability in the region.
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Earlier on Saturday, the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, known as MONUSCO, warned about a fresh wave of deadly violence targeting civilians in eastern Congo. The UN mission stated that dozens of civilians had recently been killed across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces.
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains one of Africa’s most unstable conflict zones due to the presence of multiple militias, rebel groups, and military operations. Competition over natural resources, including gold and other minerals, has fuelled years of bloodshed and humanitarian crises.
The latest attacks have once again raised concerns over civilian safety and the inability of authorities to fully restore security in the region despite ongoing military operations and international peacekeeping efforts.
