Eastern Congo: Rebels attack a gold mine, kill at least 12 people

Rebels from the CODECO armed group attacked a gold mine near Djugu district in Ituri province of eastern Congo and killed at least a dozen people while kidnapping 16 people., a civil society organization reported on Thursday.

Vital Tungulo, the head of Mabendi, a local rights group, stated that at least a dozen people were killed, and 16 others were kidnapped in the attack. He expressed outrage at the assault, highlighting the ongoing violence in eastern Congo, where conflict has persisted for decades.

The region is home to over 120 armed groups, many vying for control of valuable mineral mines and land, while others seek to protect their communities.

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CODECO is a loose association of militia groups mainly from the ethnic Lendu farming community. Since 2017, it has been fighting with Zaire, a self-defence group mainly drawn from the ethnic Hema herding community.

Attacks by CODECO killed nearly 1,800 people and wounded more than 500 in the four years through 2022, according to the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism.

CODECO is known to target areas rich in gold and minerals. In September, its fighters attacked a village in Ituri province, killing 14 people.

Congo has some of the world’s largest deposits of rare earth minerals, such as cobalt and copper, which are in high demand for the manufacture of electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels.

On Thursday, military commander Yves Kadjena said he was disappointed by the attack, especially because CODECO signed a peace treaty with other militias at the end of January, pledging to stop fighting and release hostages.

Kadjena said the military was taking action to end the violence.

With inputs from AP.