At Least 69 Killed in Armed Rebel Attack in Ituri Province, DRC

Ituri. At least 69 people have been killed in an attack by armed rebels in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Various armed groups have been active in this conflict-torn region for the past 30 years, vying for control of mineral resources. Violent conflict has long been ongoing between the Hema and Lendu communities, particularly in Ituri province, which is considered rich in gold. 

According to security sources, fighters affiliated with the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), which claims to defend the Lendu community, attacked various villages on April 28. This attack is said to be in retaliation for an attack by the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP) group, which claims to fight for the Hema community, on the Congolese army. 

Civil society leader Dieudonne Lossa stated that more than 70 people were killed in retaliation by CODECO, while other security officials confirmed the deaths of 69 people, including 19 rebels and soldiers. 

Lossa informed that the collection of bodies was delayed for several days due to the presence of rebels, and many bodies still remain to be collected. Humanitarian aid sources reported that bodies were found scattered near the village of Basa. 

The United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) strongly condemned this deadly attack on civilians and stated that approximately 200 people trapped by the rebels have been rescued. The 'Ente', an organization representing the Hema community, has termed this a genocide and urged its members not to seek revenge. 

This country, considered rich in mineral resources, has long suffered from corruption and bloodshed. The CRP group, founded by Thomas Lubanga, has been active again in this region since the beginning of 2025. 

Lubanga is a person convicted by the International Criminal Court in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers and was released from prison in 2020. Civilians have been the most affected in the fighting between CRP, government forces, and CODECO. 

In addition, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), affiliated with ISIL, are also ongoing in this region. Amnesty International's senior advisor, Rouya Rajeh, stated that while the Congolese army is busy fighting major groups like the M-23, a security vacuum has emerged in other areas, putting civilians at risk.