Democratic Republic of the Congo: UN blue helmets find mass graves

UN peacekeepers have discovered two mass graves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo containing a total of 49 dead civilians, including children. Earlier there had been attacks for which local militias were held responsible.UN peacekeeping forces have found mass graves containing at least 49 civilian bodies in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was announced by the United Nations.

Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the bodies were found in two villages in Ituri province, about 30 kilometers east of the provincial capital Bunia. A total of 42 victims, including six children, were found in a mass grave in Nyamamba village, and the bodies of seven other men in Mbogi village. Over the weekend there had been a series of attacks blamed on local militias. According to local authorities, the militiamen also abducted several women.

UN peacekeepers patrolledThe soldiers reportedly discovered the graves during a patrol after attacks by suspected Codeco militias were reported there. Haq called for an investigation to see if there was a link between the attacks and the mass graves. The UN mission Monusco supports "the Congolese judicial system in investigating the attacks and demands that the perpetrators be held accountable," he emphasized. Repeated attacks by the militiaIn Ituri, on the border with Uganda, there have been repeated attacks by the Codeco militia in recent weeks. The militia is considered an armed political-religious sect which claims to defend the interests of the Lendu ethnic group.

It is considered the most violent group in the region and is held responsible for numerous attacks. In June, seven Codeco factions announced an end to violence against civilians in Ituri. However, they have gradually resumed their attacks. At least 195 people have died in attacks blamed on Codeco militias and other armed groups since December. More than 1.5 million people in Ituri province have been displaced by fighting.
Congo