At least 69 people were killed in a militia attack in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local and security sources on Saturday. The assault, carried out on April 28 by armed members linked to the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), targeted several villages. The victims included civilians, militia members, and soldiers. The attack delayed recovery of bodies for several days due to the continued presence of CODECO fighters.

The Ituri province, rich in gold and other minerals, has long been the scene of violent clashes between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. Another armed group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP), had earlier attacked army positions near Pimbo, claiming to defend the Hema community. The United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO condemned the recent deadly assaults on civilians and reported rescuing 200 people trapped during the CRP attack.

Humanitarian agencies report that nearly one million internally displaced people in the province face severe humanitarian crises as violence involving CODECO, CRP, and other armed groups continues to destabilize the region.