At least 60 people killed in militia attack in eastern DR Congo (updated)

Summa Defence Oyj

02/02/2022 11:06

(Adds quote, details)
    By Erikas Mwisi Kambale
    BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb 2 (Reuters) - At
least 60 people were killed in a militia attack on Wednesday
morning at a displaced persons' camp in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo, the head of a local humanitarian group and a
witness said. 
    Both sources told Reuters the CODECO militia was responsible
for the killings, which took place about 0200 GMT at the Savo
camp in Ituri province. 
    CODECO fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri
in recent years and forced thousands to flee their homes,
according to the United Nations. Recent attacks have also
targeted displaced persons camps.  
    "I first heard cries when I was still in bed. Then several
minutes of gunshots. I fled and I saw torches and people crying
for help and I realized it was the CODECO militiamen who had
invaded our site," said Lokana Bale Lussa, a camp resident.
    "We have counted more than 60 dead and (more) seriously
injured," he said. 
    Charite Banza Bavi, president of the local humanitarian
group for the Bahema-North area, put the death toll at 63. 
    The Savo displacement site was home to about 4,000 people in
December, according to the U.N. migration agency.
    CODECO's fighters are drawn mainly from the Lendu farming
community, which has long been in conflict with Hema herders.
    A government spokesman could not immediately be reached for
comment. 

 (Reporting by Erikas Mwisi Kambale; Writing by Nellie Peyton;
Editing by Kevin Liffey and Angus MacSwan)
 ((nellie.peyton@thomsonreuters.com; +221 77 298 1636;))