Violence Erupts in DRC: Nine Soldiers Killed in Militia Attack

A militia group killed nine soldiers in an army camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Mai-Ndombe province. The attack was part of ongoing communal violence between the Teke and Yaka communities over land disputes. Despite a ceasefire agreement in April 2024, clashes have persisted.

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, July 16 (Reuters) - A militia group launched a deadly assault on an army camp in Kwamouth territory, Mai-Ndombe province, on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of nine soldiers, the army spokesman and a village chief reported on Monday. This region has been plagued by communal fighting over land since 2022.

The attackers, primarily from a Yaka militia named Mobondo, targeted the village of Kinsele, roughly 130 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa. According to Congo army spokesman Sylvain Ekenge, 35 assailants and one soldier's wife were also killed during the confrontation.

The chief of the nearby village of Kimomo, Stanys Libye, noted that a major, a lieutenant, two captains, and five soldiers were among the deceased. "The soldiers were ambushed at around 5 a.m.," Libye said. "The military retaliated effectively, overpowering some of the attackers."

Kwamouth has witnessed significant intercommunal violence, claiming hundreds of civilian lives and decimating infrastructure since 2022. Despite a ceasefire signed in April 2024 between Teke and Yaka chiefs and the Mobondo, under the watch of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, hostilities have continued. Some traditional chiefs have criticized the ceasefire for lacking inclusivity. Meanwhile, Congo faces further violence in its eastern territories where the M23 rebel group has been active since 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)