MONUSCO is informing UN Security about mass graves containing the bodies of 42 civilians, including 12 women and six children, discovered in the village of Nyamamba.
Another grave with the bodies of seven men was discovered in the village of Mbogi. Both locations are about 30 kilometres east of Bunia in the Ituri province.
Peacekeepers launched a patrol to the area immediately after receiving reports of attacks on civilians by the CODECO militias over the weekend. This is when they made the gruesome discoveries.
MONUSCO is supporting the Congolese judicial system to investigate the attacks and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
These incidents occurred amidst a significant deterioration of the security situation in Djugu and Mahagi territories. Since December 2022, the Mission reports that at least 195 civilians have been killed, and 68 injured as well as 84 people abducted during several incidents attributed to CODECO and Zaire armed groups.
The recent attacks have increased the number of displaced people to more than 1.5 million in Ituri and reduced access for humanitarians to those in need of assistance. (End)