DR Congo: Six killed in militia attack on villages

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo (AA) - A militia group has attacked several villages in Kasai-Central province killing at least six people, the police said Wednesday.

Police commander William Longwa said that the attacked villages included Dimbelenge, Luandanda, Mutoto, Kajiba and Muamba Mbuyi where the militia also burnt down a police post, and looted several homes.

''They first attacked Kajiba village before moving on to Dimbelenge where they burnt down a police post. Later they attacked the neighboring villages. Six people were killed," Longwa said, identifying the attackers as the members of a militia group called Kamwina Nsapu.

The attacks, which started Tuesday afternoon and carried into Wednesday, came one week after the militia attacked the provincial capital, Kananga, where 49 people were killed in clashes between Congolese security forces and the group.

The continuous attacks by the militia, according to Longwa, are acts of revenge against the police and army which killed the traditional leader of Kamwina Nsapu in August this year during clashes with security forces.