At least 14 people were killed in the eastern Congolese province of Ituri on Sunday, after militia attacked worshippers praying in a church, a local official and a civil society leader said on Monday.
The Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) group, one of many militias operating in the conflict-ridden east, was behind the attack, said Djugu territory administrator Ruphin Mapela and civil society leader Dieudonne Lossa.
“The victims were praying to the Lord, but unfortunately militiamen identified as CODECO opened fire on them,” Lossa said. Both said that nine civilians, four assailants and a soldier were killed.
Mapela said that militants attacked Mesa, Cepac and Aumopro churches located near the shore of Lake Albert in the Bahema-Nord chiefdom. We call on the population to remain calm as the armed forces pursue these criminals to put them out of action,” Ituri army spokesperson Jules Ngongo Tshikudi said.
CODECO claims to defend the interests of Lendu farmers, who have long been in conflict with Hema herders. The CODECO raids have worsened a longstanding humanitarian crisis in Ituri province, where some three million people are in desperate need of aid, according to a UN humanitarian agency.
Source: SABC
In other news – Photos: Jessica Nkosi and TK Dlamini’s daughter, Namisa turns 5
Popular Mzansi actors Jessica Nkosi and TK Dlamini had been celebrating their daughter’s birthday. They were blessed with a baby five years ago, and they named her Namisa.
Every year, Jessica and TK celebrate their first birth’s birthday expensively. When celebrating her 4th birthday, they all went for a photo shoot, which was lovely. Read more
