This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Published on July 9, 2020, a local official in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed a pre-dawn attack in Djugu, north of Bunia, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the massacre to the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) militia, which is active in the region and has been blamed for several deaths.
CODECO is drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, a predominantly farming community that has historically clashed with the Hema, a group of traders and herders.
According to the official, the insecurity in the zone has made it difficult to determine the exact toll of the attack, with a team on the ground required to provide a more accurate assessment.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued by chronic instability for over a quarter of a century, with its population terrorized by militias that are largely the legacy of two major wars.
UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet had previously spoken of 'crimes against humanity' after visiting the northern region of Bunia in January, adding that the majority of victims were from the Hema group.
The International Criminal Court based in The Hague has also stated that the killings could constitute crimes under its purview.
