On Saturday, 15 individuals were fatally shot by militia members in Ituri, marking the second attack on civilians in less than a week in the northeastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local sources reported on Sunday.
Residents and local officials attributed the violence to armed militias.
Local civil society representative Jules Tsuba reported that on Saturday afternoon, "militia members ambushed people traveling on the Katoto-Largo Road, near the village of Tali, where they captured 15 individuals, including a woman."
He further mentioned, "They were bound, stripped of their clothing," before being killed, with some victims "executed by firearms."
An aid worker noted, "The bodies of the victims bore signs of torture." Meanwhile, Ituri's Governor Rovin Mabila remarked that this attack disrupted several months of relative calm, confirming the death of 15 people.
Mabila expressed surprise at the resurgence of violence, recalling peace agreements made last year with various armed groups following discussions in Nairobi.
This past Tuesday, gunmen killed seven gold miners at mining sites in the "Djugu" area.
The violence perpetrated by militias has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and the displacement of large numbers of people.
Follow the latest news on Google News
