Ituri: nearly 140 civilians killed in January 2023

The figures were presented by the civil society in Ituri province in eastern DRC. The victims were killed in different localities of the province in attacks by armed groups. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The figures were presented to the local press by the provincial coordination of civil society in Ituri.

“The victims were murdered by armed groups in the territories of Djugu (80), Irumu (27), Mahagi (18) and Mambasa (13)[…]”, detailed Dieudonné Lossa, president of civil society, lifeblood of Ituri.

The perpetrators of the massacres are armed groups, mainly the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces).

Civil society is asking the Congolese president to get involved in order to stop the cycle of massacres of the civilian population in this part of Congo.

In his recent visit to the Congolese capital Kinshasa, Pope Francis called for an end to the war in the east of the vast Central African country which has more than 100 armed groups including the M23, an armed group made up of Congolese Tutsis who have recovered several localities in the province of North Kivu in the east of the DRC, since mid-June 2022.

To the victims of violence and atrocities in this region of the Congo, the Holy Father said “your suffering is my suffering”, after having listened to the testimonies of the victims, including nationals of Ituri.