Violence has once again flared in Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with militia group CODECO launching deadly assaults that have forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
According to the United Nations mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, more than 2,500 people have sought refuge near its base in Gina, located about 40 kilometres from Bunia, the provincial capital. The attacks are the latest in a series of brutal incidents destabilising the region, which has long been plagued by militia violence and humanitarian crises.
The coordinated assault began early on Tuesday, October 14, when residents of Ndachulu were awakened by heavy gunfire from CODECO fighters. MONUSCO spokesperson Jean-Tobie Okala confirmed that the militia targeted the Rhoe camp for displaced persons, roughly 100 kilometres from Bunia, while another group ambushed farmers near Maze.
Peacekeepers from MONUSCO swiftly intervened, firing warning shots to repel the attackers and prevent further bloodshed. A separate UN unit was deployed to Maze and later to Largu, where similar threats had been reported, successfully halting the militia’s advance.
Local authorities credited the peacekeepers for averting a massacre. “The intervention of the peacekeepers saved thousands of lives and helped prevent the worst,” said the Chief of the Bahema Nord chiefdom.
Despite the intervention, two civilians were killed, and several homes were set ablaze in Ogobi village. MONUSCO forces also provided protection and safe passage for humanitarian vehicles that had been trapped in the conflict zone, escorting them to safety near Drodro hospital.
The attack underscores the fragile security situation in eastern DRC, which continues to face instability despite ongoing peacekeeping efforts. Earlier this year, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) stability mission involving troops from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania was deployed to the region, but its operations were suspended following intense opposition from M23 rebels.
As violence resurges, humanitarian organisations warn that the situation in Ituri could worsen unless lasting peace and accountability are achieved.
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