At least 26 killed in machete attack in eastern DRC
Aid trucks set alight by angry civilians in wake of the overnight attack
24 October 2023 - 17:58
byErikas Mwisi Kambale
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DRC soldiers rest in North Kivu province, December 11 2018. Picture: GORAN TOMASEVIC/REUTERS
Beni — Suspected Islamist militants killed 26 people with machetes in an overnight attack in the town of Oicha in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), its mayor and the army said on Tuesday.
They attributed the killings to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group originally from Uganda, now based in eastern DRC, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and mounts frequent attacks.
Local army spokesperson Antony Mwalushayi said the attack against civilians in Oicha was believed to be retaliation for recent army strikes against the ADF.
The attackers carried out the killings with knives instead of guns, so as not to alert nearby troops, he told reporters.
“The enemy was divided into three groups. The first group was there to prevent the intervention of the military, the second group was there to loot the stores of the civilian population and the third group was there to silently slaughter our population with machetes,” Mwalushayi said.
The army had received information ahead of the attack that the insurgents they had bombed in the Tingwe forest would be coming to Oicha to seek revenge, Mwalushayi said during a press briefing in the town. A recording of his remarks was shared later by his office.
Army commanders were in Oicha to discuss this threat with local troops just hours before the attack took place, he said.
The attack occurred around 11pm on Monday, said Nicolas Kikuku, the mayor of Oicha, which is in North Kivu province. Four people were wounded and taken to hospital in addition to the 26 killed, he said.
Local civil society activist Janvier Kasereka Kasayirio said that local youths were angry on Tuesday after police took the bodies away to the morgue, and that young protesters burned several vehicles at an aid distribution site.
The UN World Food Programme said three trucks used by its contractors had been torched, and that it was investigating the incident.
Uganda and DRC launched a joint military operation two years ago to try to root out the ADF. Uganda’s army said last month it had killed more than 560 fighters and destroyed some camps.
“As I speak, our troops are in physical contact with the enemy,” said Mwalushayi.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
At least 26 killed in machete attack in eastern DRC
Aid trucks set alight by angry civilians in wake of the overnight attack
Beni — Suspected Islamist militants killed 26 people with machetes in an overnight attack in the town of Oicha in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), its mayor and the army said on Tuesday.
They attributed the killings to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group originally from Uganda, now based in eastern DRC, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and mounts frequent attacks.
Local army spokesperson Antony Mwalushayi said the attack against civilians in Oicha was believed to be retaliation for recent army strikes against the ADF.
The attackers carried out the killings with knives instead of guns, so as not to alert nearby troops, he told reporters.
“The enemy was divided into three groups. The first group was there to prevent the intervention of the military, the second group was there to loot the stores of the civilian population and the third group was there to silently slaughter our population with machetes,” Mwalushayi said.
The army had received information ahead of the attack that the insurgents they had bombed in the Tingwe forest would be coming to Oicha to seek revenge, Mwalushayi said during a press briefing in the town. A recording of his remarks was shared later by his office.
Army commanders were in Oicha to discuss this threat with local troops just hours before the attack took place, he said.
The attack occurred around 11pm on Monday, said Nicolas Kikuku, the mayor of Oicha, which is in North Kivu province. Four people were wounded and taken to hospital in addition to the 26 killed, he said.
Local civil society activist Janvier Kasereka Kasayirio said that local youths were angry on Tuesday after police took the bodies away to the morgue, and that young protesters burned several vehicles at an aid distribution site.
The UN World Food Programme said three trucks used by its contractors had been torched, and that it was investigating the incident.
Uganda and DRC launched a joint military operation two years ago to try to root out the ADF. Uganda’s army said last month it had killed more than 560 fighters and destroyed some camps.
“As I speak, our troops are in physical contact with the enemy,” said Mwalushayi.
Reuters
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