According to a civil society organisation, insurgents at a mining site in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo killed at least twelve individuals and abducted sixteen more.
The president of the local rights organisation Mabendi, Vital Tungulo, reported that on Wednesday, rebels from the CODECO armed group assaulted a gold mine close to the Djugu area in Ituri province.
“We are outraged by this enemy attack,” he said.
In eastern DRC, escalating violence persists as over 120 armed groups vie for land and control of valuable mineral-rich mines, while some factions aim to safeguard their communities.
CODECO, comprising loosely affiliated militia groups from the Lendu farming community, has been in conflict with Zaire, a self-defence group primarily representing the Hema herding community since 2017.
CODECO’s attacks, responsible for nearly 1,800 fatalities and over 500 injuries between 2018 and 2022, often target regions abundant in gold and minerals.
Notably, the DRC harbours significant deposits of rare earth minerals like cobalt and copper, crucial for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels.
In a recent incident in September, CODECO militants assaulted a village in Ituri province, resulting in 14 fatalities. Despite signing a peace treaty in January with other militias, committing to cease hostilities and release hostages, CODECO’s actions continue to defy the agreement.
Military commander Yves Kadjena expressed disappointment and assured that the military is actively intervening to quell the violence.
