Lala attack in Ituri: MONUSCO on alert
On June 11, 2023, an armed incursion into a site for displaced people located about 75 km from Bunia caused the death of 45 people. According to the authorities, the attack was perpetrated by CODECO militiamen in the town of Lala. MONUSCO, in collaboration with the Congolese defense and security forces, has reinforced the security system in the area to protect civilian populations and displaced persons sites.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Bintou Keita, strongly condemned the attack, recalling that deliberate attacks against civilian populations can constitute war crimes. She urged the perpetrators of summary executions to answer for their actions before international or national courts.
The Congolese army announced the opening of an investigation into the attack. She also called for an immediate end to all violence against civilians, and invited the armed group CODECO to join disarmament programs.
MONUSCO reiterates its commitment to the protection of civilian populations and the promotion of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congolese political leaders must mobilize to guarantee the security of vulnerable populations in the Ituri region and throughout the country