CODECO Rebels Kill 11 Persons At Mining Site In Mongbwalu, DR Congo

11 persons were killed on Friday, Dec. 3, in an attack by rebels of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) on a mining site in Mongbwalu, DR Congo.

Jean-Pierre Bikilisende, the Mayor of the Mongbwalu Rural Council, said four members of one family were among the victims, while it was believed that four rebel members were lynched by the irate people.

“The FARDC (the DR Congo national army) carried out a professional combat and finally succeeded in pushing back the CODECO militia who headed towards the southwest,” the Mayor of Mungbwalu said. 

“We deplore the death of seven persons among whom were a whole family composed of a father, mother and two children as well as three other persons killed. We also deplore the case of mob justice meted out on four presumed CODECO rebels who were lynched to death.” 

He disclosed that several houses and shops in the central market and others in the periphery of Mongbwalu were destroyed by the rebels during the attack.

The national army, FARDC,  said the government troops pushed back an attempted incursion and added that eight CODECO militia were captured.

Lt. Jules Ngongo, the army spokesperson, saluted the “popular resistance of the inhabitants of Mongbwalu who facilitated the capture of the CODECO militiamen,” adding that search operations were being carried out to get a final figure of casualties.

Following the CODECO incursion, there has been a massive displacement of the people towards the commercial centre of Pluto where most of the people from Mongbwalu are housed by host families.

The attack on Friday came on the heels of another one on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 in the same rural council resulting in the deaths of six persons and others wounded.