At Least 70 Killed in Militia Attack in Western Democratic Republic of Congo
At least 70 people, including nine soldiers and the wife of a soldier, have been killed in a militia attack on a village in western Democratic Republic of Congo. The attack occurred on Saturday in the village of Kinsele, about 100 km east of the capital, Kinshasa. According to local authorities, the attackers were members of the Mobondo militia, an armed group that claims to be defending the Yaka people.
The conflict between the Teke and Yaka communities in the Kwamouth territory has been ongoing for over two years, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. The violence has escalated in recent weeks, despite a ceasefire agreement concluded in April 2024.
"The attack took place on Saturday in the village of Kinsele, about 100 km east of the capital, Kinshasa," said David Bisaka, Kwamouth Territory MPP, in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "As of this morning (Monday, July 15), 72 bodies have already been recovered and the search is continuing for more bodies in the bush."
Security services on the ground are continuing to search for bodies, after the army managed to rout the militia for the second time in a week. The Mobondo militia first attempted to attack the same village on Friday.
The conflict over land and customary claims in the Kwamouth territory erupted in June 2022 between the indigenous Teke and non-indigenous Yaka communities, according to Human Rights Watch. Tensions erupted over land rights and customary taxes between the Teke and Yaka, who have more recently settled near the Congo River.
Despite a ceasefire agreement, clashes between the two communities have continued and intensified in recent weeks, without the Congolese army managing to suppress the violence. The military is also struggling to contain violence in the east of the country, which has been torn apart by decade-long fighting between government forces and more than 120 armed groups seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources.
Violence in the east of the country has worsened in recent months, as security forces battle militias. Earlier this month, a militia attack on a gold mine in northeastern Congo killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese soldiers.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued by violence and instability, with government forces and armed groups battling for control of the country’s natural resources. The international community has urged the government to take steps to address the humanitarian crisis and bring peace to the region.
