Rebel fighters kill at least 69 people in northeastern DR Congo

Security officials say CODECO militia groups carried out the attack in Ituri province.An attack by armed rebels has killed at least 69 people in Ituri province in the conflict-torn northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to security officials.For more than 30 years, the mineral-rich eastern DRC has been a battleground for various armed groups, vying for control of its many mines.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4DRC government, M23 rebels commit to protecting civilians, aid deliverieslist 2 of 4DR Congo to establish US-backed paramilitary guard for mineslist 3 of 4‘Encouraging’: Global rainforest loss slows in 2025 after record yearlist 4 of 4Amnesty accuses Congolese rebel group of ‘extensive brutality’end of listTwo ethnic groups – the Hema and the Lendu – have been locked in a long-running violent conflict in Ituri, a gold-rich province that borders Uganda and South Sudan.Armed men affiliated with the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) coalition of militia groups, which claims to protect the Lendu, carried out attacks in several villages on April 28, local and security sources told the AFP news agency.These attacks followed an earlier assault by another armed group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP) – which says it fights for the Hema community – on positions held by the Congolese army (FARDC) near the locality of Pimbo, they said.More than 70 people were killed when CODECO fighters launched the retaliatory attacks in late April, civil society leader Dieudonne Losa told AFP.Two other security sources, talking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the attacks, with one stating a death toll of at least 69, including 19 militia members and soldiers.The presence of CODECO fighters delayed the recovery of the bodies for several days, they said.“Only 25 bodies have been buried,” Losa said on Saturday, adding several sets of remains had yet to be recovered.