Tension is rising in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the army has launched a new offensive against the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), one of the deadliest tribal militias in the east of the country, in Ituri. CODECO is accused of being behind the attack on the Lala IDP camp, which claimed the lives of at least 45 people.
The authorities announced that they had recovered seven localities in one day, including a village considered a stronghold of the militia. The spokesman for the army in the region, Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, called on the populations to return to their respective communities and called for the collaboration of the population in reporting suspected cases.
General Nyembo Abdallah has been appointed to head Operation Chacal which aims to put an end to the atrocities committed by CODECO in the region. Arrest warrants have also been issued against the alleged perpetrators and co-perpetrators of the massacres in the territory of Djugu, where the fighting is taking place.
This situation is a source of concern for the entire international community. Indeed, the DRC has not yet finished healing the wounds caused by two decades of civil war which left millions dead and displaced. The persistence of violence in certain provinces of the country, such as Ituri, continues to threaten the security of populations and endanger economic and social development efforts