AFRICA

OVER A DOZEN KILLED IN EASTERN CONGO REBEL ATTACK

OVER A DOZEN KILLED IN EASTERN CONGO REBEL ATTACK
Spread the love

Ekeomah Atuonwu

Suspected rebels using machetes and guns to attack a village in eastern Congo have killed at least a dozen civilians, according to Congo’s army and a survivor.

According to army spokesman Captain Anthony Mwalushayi, the attack was carried out late on Sunday in Masambo, about 50 kilometers from the city of Beni, by fighters affiliated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

“Investigations are ongoing,” he stated.

“We’re pursuing the enemy near the Ugandan border, near Mount Ruwenzori. I urge the Congolese people to remain calm and to assist the Congolese army by providing any information on suspicious individuals.”

When Masambo was attacked, residents fled, with some seeking refuge in Kasindi on the Ugandan border and others in Beni.

Over a dozen killed in rebel attack in eastern Congo /AFP/

Deborah Mutangi said she and her children escaped the attack and arrived in Beni on Monday morning.

“When I heard the bullets, I went straight into the house to tell the kids to lock the doors,” she explained.

“When we woke up in the morning, there were bodies all over the place.”

Mutangi stated that she had counted at least 15 dead.

TRIAL OF INSURGENTS

The attack by suspected ADF rebels based in Uganda comes just a few days after the start of trials for a dozen rebels captured in combat by Congo’s army and brought to Beni.

The ADF rebels, based in Uganda, have been active in eastern Congo for decades and have killed thousands of people since their reappearance in 2013.

In December, Uganda sent more than 1,000 soldiers to fight with Congo’s army against ADF rebels in the region.

About Author

Ekeomah Atuonwu

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *