The residents were victims of an attack attributed to the armed group Cooperative for the Development of Congo (Codeco), which is active in this area located a little north of the provincial capital Bunia.
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According to local civil society leaders, the attack took place Saturday morning in the village of Galay, located west of Djugu territory. Militiamen identified as members of the Codeco armed group arrived in the locality and opened fire on the residents.
In a video posted on WhatsApp, we see rescuers carrying stretchers. Above, the bodies of some of the victims of this attack. Among the six remains filmed lined up there are men and women, none of the victims is wearing a uniform, they are all dressed in civilian clothing.
According to a community leader in the area, contacted by Agence-France Presse, the militia are present in this sector, called Bayani Kilo, where they exploit gold, a source of financing. They demand the defense of the Lendu community and oppose the Hema community and the Congolese army.
Since 2017, the resumption of violence has displaced more than a million and a half people, according to United Nations figures.