At least 48 people killed in militia attack in eastern DR Congo: UN radio

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - At least 48 people were killed in militia attacks in Democratic Republic of Congo’s easter Ituri province, UN radio in the country said on Saturday.

The radio said that a series of attacks were carried out by the Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO). More than 150 houses and shops were also burned and looted, it added.

According to Innocent Matukadala, a regional administrator, the attack and killings first took place in the towns of Kilo Etat, Matete and Itendy before spreading to other villages.

Two local health facilities were also reportedly looted and ransacked by the militiamen.

Quoting military sources, UN radio said that the DR Congo army “neutralized” 14 attackers and injured four others during the fighting.

Civilians suffer regular attacks orchestrated by the Allied Democratic Forces rebels and the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) among other militias.