Title: Communal violence in the DRC: Mobondo militiamen kill five people
In the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an attack by militiamen caused the death of five people in the village of Batshongo. According to local authorities, the attack was carried out by members of the Yaka community. Two soldiers, a policeman and two civilians perished in the assault.
The conflict involves the Teke and Yaka communities, who are fighting over customary royalties and access to land in the Kwamouth area of Mai-Ndombe province. The situation has escalated into communal violence, killing at least 300 people since June 2022, according to Human Rights Watch.
The province of Kwango and that of Kinshasa where the Congolese capital is located are also affected by the clashes. Batshongo, where the attack occurred, is on the border of these two provinces.
Sporadic fighting between security forces and Mobondo militiamen has broken out in recent days, killing several people. This violence occurs in the context of a major humanitarian crisis in the DRC, where humanitarian needs are constantly growing.
The international community is called upon to act to put an end to the violence and allow the populations to live in peace. The situation remains precarious in the region, where attacks continue despite calls for de-escalation