Death toll climbs to 32 in eastern Congo attack

By James Tasambaveral hom

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The death toll rose from six to 32 in an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province after more bodies were found, local authorities said Saturday.

The attack occurred Thursday in Kisunga village southeast of Butembo, where attackers killed civilians and burned a health facility and several homes.

Abdoul Kalemire, the head of the chiefdom of Bashu said 29 bodies were counted Saturday following a search for missing persons which started Friday.

Most victims were executed with machetes after being taken hostage, he said.

Sixteen bodies were reportedly found along the road to Virunga Park, where attackers retreated while 10 others were found in the park.

The victims included three caregivers and a security guard at the burned health center, according to Edgard Mateso, vice president of North Kivu civil society group.

Noting that two doctors who work at the facility managed to escape, Mateso said the attackers killed others while retreating from the village.

Four charred bodies were found at the burned Kyalumba Health Center.

Kyalumba Health Center acted as a referral health facility for residents in the Kisunga region.

Sources said several people were still unaccounted for on Saturday, including two nurses from the Kisunga health facility that was set on fire.

President Felix Tshisekedi proclaimed a “state of siege” in May in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, replacing senior civilian officials in the state with army officers in a bid to curb growing insecurity.

However, more than 1,400 people have been killed in attacks attributed to the ADF since the declaration of state of siege in the two provinces, North Kivu provincial MP Jean-Paul Ngahangondi said last month.