At Least 20 People Died From Serious Violence In The Congo

AFP news agency quoted local officials as saying that at least 20 civilians were killed and one wounded in Ituri province in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the night of 16 and 17 May.

Adel Alingi, the head of the Djugi administrative area in Ituri province, told AFP that ill-fated victims of all ages, from children, young people, and women to the elderly. Some injured people were taken to hospital. Meanwhile, another local official said that 22 people were killed in the violence. 

Local officials suspect the Congolese armed group for development (CODECO) carried out the attack.

According to AFP, CODECO is an armed group, formed from the Lendu ethnic group, operating for political - religious purposes. 

The Lendu ethnic group is comprised mainly of farmers and has been constantly in conflict with the merchant and herder community in Ituri.

In the period of 1999-2003, there were tens of thousands of deaths due to these clashes. Violence broke out again in late 2017, killing more than 700 people.