At least 69 people were killed in attacks carried out by armed fighters in Ituri province in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local and security officials. The assaults were blamed on fighters linked to the CODECO militia, a coalition that claims to defend the Lendu community in the region.
The attacks reportedly took place on April 28 in several villages near the town of Pimbo, close to the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Officials said most of the victims were civilians. The death toll could rise further as some residents remain missing and recovery efforts continue in insecure areas.
Eastern DR Congo has faced decades of violence involving armed groups competing for territory and control of mineral-rich land. Tensions between the Hema and Lendu communities have fueled repeated clashes in Ituri province over the years.
The latest killings came amid renewed warnings from the United Nations over worsening violence against civilians in eastern Congo, where multiple rebel and militia groups remain active despite military operations by Congolese forces.
