More than 35 civilians were killed in a violent attack by CODECO militants on a cluster of villages in Djugu territory, Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Local authorities fear the death toll may rise significantly as the search for bodies continues.
Jean Vianney, head of the Djaiba group of villages, reported that the assault began around 8 p.m. on Monday, with militants executing residents and setting homes ablaze.
“We have counted more than 35 dead this morning, and the search is ongoing. Many were burned alive in their homes,” he said.
Floribert Byaruhanga, a lawmaker from Djugu, stated that at least 40 people were confirmed dead, with some victims shot and others beheaded. Civil society leader Jules Tsuba reported a higher count of 49 bodies, while survivor Daniel Kisembo said he saw 51, many of them charred or decapitated. Another witness, Romeo Bahigwa, counted 82 bodies at the scene.
CODECO, one of the many armed groups in eastern Congo, has been accused by the United Nations of war crimes against communities such as the Hema herders, who form the majority in Djugu. Vianney confirmed that the victims were primarily Hema.
Despite the presence of Congolese soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers in the region, they did not intervene in time. Provincial army spokesman Jules Ngono stated that troops attempted to respond but arrived too late to prevent the massacre.
A U.N. source, speaking anonymously, revealed that peacekeepers had been deployed to a separate CODECO attack on a nearby displaced persons camp on Sunday night. The militants then shifted their assault to the villages on Monday. The reported death toll currently ranges between 49 and 55, with fears it could climb higher.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, has yet to respond to requests for comment.
