Government officials reported that in western DR Congo, where sectarian violence has erupted since June 2022, attacks by militia groups have resulted in the deaths of eighteen civilians and one soldier.
Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stated that the civilians were slain in the village of Final, situated approximately 190 kilometers (120 miles) southeast of the capital Kinshasa. Allegedly, the “Mobondo” militia was responsible for the attack, which occurred last Monday.
According to him, in addition to the 18 civilians who lost their lives, one soldier was killed, and another is still missing. Furthermore, he noted that the village had been set ablaze.
Sectarian violence in the region had subsided in recent months before resurging in March, with attacks have primarily targeted the Teke community and have been carried out by groups that are not indigenous to the area.
These incidents of violence coincide with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts to suppress rebellions in the eastern part of the country. In this mineral-rich region, dozens of armed groups have surfaced, stemming from the legacy of the regional conflicts that raged during the 1990s and 2000s.
DR Congo has consistently accused its significantly smaller neighbour, Rwanda, of providing support to the rebels in the eastern region, an allegation that Kigali vehemently denies.