Four Die In CODECO Rebels’ Attack On Mining Site In DR Congo
Two Chinese, one Ugandan and one Congolese have died in an attack by militia of the Cooperative pour le Developpement du Congo (CODECO).
Two Chinese, one Ugandan and one Congolese died in an attack by militia of the Cooperative pour le Developpement du Congo (CODECO) on a mining site in Damblo, situated about 60 kilometres to the north of Bunia, DR Congo.
HumAngle learnt that the rebels attacked the mining site on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
“During the attack, all the workers were still there and there were 12 Chinese. The militiamen killed two Chinese and their corpses were found on the spot where they were killed. The other 10 Chinese have been reported missing,” Lokana Pay, president of the Mungwalu civil society revealed.
The army spokesperson in Ituri, Lt. Jules Ngongo confirmed the death of two Chinese in the attack adding that “a Ugandan and one Congolese woman who worked with the Chinese were also killed by the CODECO militiamen.”
“We regret the deaths but it must also be said that most of these Chinese are living under irregular situations in the country and sometimes some of them collaborate with CODECO militia in the mineral zone in order to facilitate their illicit exploitation of minerals,” Lt. Ngongo declared.
Several attacks against Chinese at mineral sites have been reported recently.
Five Chinese working at a gold mine in Fizi territory in South Kivu province were abducted on Sunday, Nov. 21 by an unknown armed gang.
Violence has been revisiting the Ituri goldmines since the end of 2017 with the arrival of CODECO militiamen pretending to be defending the interests of the Lendu, one of the communities in the province.
Since May 6, 2021, Ituri and the neighbouring province of North Kivu have been under a state of siege, declared by President Felix Tshisekedi to fight against armed groups.
Civil authorities in the two provinces have been replaced by military and police governors but massacres and abductions continue unabated.
The latest massacre in Ituri took place last Monday, Nov. 22, when at least 29 persons were killed.
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