At least 30 killed in fighting between army and militiamen in DRC

BUNIA, DRC, March 18 (Xinhua) — At least 30 people have been killed during fighting between the army and the forces of a local militia of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) group, in the province of Ituri in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Jules Ngongo, spokesman for the army in Ituri said on Thursday that the fighting followed the CODECO militia’s attack on two villages early this week in the territory of Ndjugu located about 40 km from the city of Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province.

Among the dead are 11 civilians and 16 militiamen. There are also two soldiers and a policeman killed in the fight.

According to Jules Ngongo, the army has regained control of the situation in the attacked area and pursuit operations are continuing against the militiamen across the territory of Ndjugu.

The CODECO militia, which abounds in several branches in the territory of Ndjugu, remains very active in this part of the country despite the army’s operations and the demobilization processes underway between their leaders and the central government.