At least 35 civilians were brutally killed in an attack on several villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the death toll expected to rise significantly as search efforts continue, local officials reported on Tuesday.
The assault, which began around 8 p.m. on Monday in the Djaiba group of villages in Djugu territory, was carried out by militants from the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), according to village chief Jean Vianney. Witnesses described horrifying scenes of summary executions, homes set ablaze, and bodies burned beyond recognition.
A survivor, Daniel Kisembo, said he counted 51 bodies, many of them charred or decapitated with machetes. Another witness, Romeo Bahigwa, who arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning, reported seeing 82 bodies.
CODECO, one of many armed groups vying for control over land and resources in eastern Congo, has been accused by the United Nations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly targeting the Hema community. The majority of the victims in Monday’s massacre were Hema, Vianney confirmed.
Congolese soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers stationed in the area failed to intervene in time to prevent the attack. Provincial army spokesman Jules Ngono stated that troops attempted to respond but arrived too late.
"The attack on the Djaiba group is the worst in terms of civilian deaths, and we strongly condemn this atrocity," Ngono said.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) has not yet issued an official response. A U.N. source, speaking anonymously, stated that peacekeepers had been deployed to a separate CODECO attack on a nearby displaced persons camp on Sunday night. The militants then moved to attack the villages on Monday, further escalating violence in the region.
The reported death toll currently stands between 49 and 55, but officials fear it could climb as more bodies are recovered.
This massacre underscores the ongoing instability in Ituri province, where armed groups continue to carry out deadly attacks despite efforts by the Congolese government and international forces to restore peace.