5 people killed by alleged CODECO militias in Lodja

The night of Wednesday to Thursday, June 18, 2020, the locality of Lodja in the Walendu Pitsi sector, Djugu territory was  attacked  by alleged CODECO militias .
The local civil society  puts forward an assessment of five (5) people killed, several houses burned down and property of the population looted.
"There were 5 deaths, mostly children and women, this is what happened," said Jules Tsuba.
This is the second attack recorded in the region in this week. On June 16, the army announced that it had neutralized 15 rebels belonging to this group responsible for several abuses against the civilian population since December 2017.

The Canadian Partnership for International Justice (PCJI) has written to the International Criminal Court (ICC) asking it to investigate former President Joseph Kabila and his government's senior officials for alleged crimes

In a June 17 letter to the Office of the Attorney, these Canadian lawyers asked him to seriously address the role and responsibility of Joseph Kabila and his administration. They talk about atrocities including killings, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence and forced disappearance.

"The continuing impunity of these crimes has contributed to a climate of fear and an alarming increase in violence in the DRC, on the basis of rumors that Kabila would consider returning to power", writes the lawyer group.

The letter signed by 17 other experts and civil society organizations reflects the voices of Congolese and international human rights organizations that have arrested the ICC.

They call on the International Criminal Court to act without delay in order to honour its commitment to fight impunity.

Security sources in Djugu territory apparently have confirmed the persistent rumors that have been circulating for several weeks about the creation of a new armed group called Zaire which aims to fight the CODECO

According to our sources now! Security sources in Djugu territory apparently have confirmed the persistent rumors that have been circulating for several weeks about the creation of a new armed group called Zaire which aims to fight the CODECO militiamen responsible for several abuses against the population civil.

This new group will be or is located in the chiefdoms of Bahema Badjere and Mambisa under the financial support of certain economic operators in the area.

"On May 18, 2020, around 3 p.m., the young men of a self-defense militia called Zaire had or raided Mbidjo, a trading center located at the border between the chiefdoms of Bahema Badjere, Walendu Djatsi and Mabendi where they erected barriers to demand money from passers-by, ”explains our source, who requested anonymity.

It adds that on the same date, these men managed to snatch 3 weapons of war from the hands of FARDC soldiers stationed in the locality of Simbi.

Barriers erected by these militiamen who collect sums ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 FC required for pedestrians and motorcycle drivers are visible on the following axes:

Akwe-Damascus-Makofi

Akwe-Mundo-Ngazba

Akwe-Nyaka-Dhego

Still to believe our source, since the beginning of May, the security authorities have received signals concerning the actions of these young armed men.

"On May 07, 2020, young people with AK47-type weapons from the village Akwe, a Dhego group in chiefdom of Bahema Badjere burnt down 5 houses in the Isiro village among the Mabendi. In reprisal, the CODECO militiamen made an incursion the following day in this Akwe village where they burned the houses and looted several goods belonging to the population "confides our source who adds:

"Also, as of May 10, young people from this self-defense militia managed to repel CODECO combatants who were trying to make an incursion into the Dala village in Mambisa chiefdom, killing ten among the attackers."

CODECO militias steal NGOs vehicles

CODECO assailants steal two vehicles belonging to international NGOs on the Kpandroma-Buda road axis in Djugu territory.

The fact happened the morning of Wednesday, June 17, 2020 says over the phone.

According to our source, the rebels intercepted the two vehicles in Gokpa village, more than 3 km from the Kpandroma shopping center, forced the drivers to transport them to their destination, before releasing them later.

"They stole the vehicles but they have already released them. It was only for quick intervention to get them to their destination. They did no harm to the drivers or their passengers, "said our source.

We tried unsuccessfully to collect the version of the NGOs concerned, or that of the army spokesperson in Ituri.

Locals of Kakwa in DRC want FARDC to maximise security of the territory!

The chiefdom of the Kakwa in the west of the rural commune of Aru, is under threat from the south of the repeated attacks of the South Sudanese soldiers who engage in looting of their goods,arson of the houses and other scenes of vandalism decried by local forces.

From April 2020 to the present, at least 8 attackd by these foreign soldiers have been reported in this part of Ituri province that shares the border with South Sudan.

Several testimonies collected on the spot point to the absence of the Congolese soldiers on the border between the DRC and South Sudan, thus facilitating the entry of these foreign soldiers who sometimes operate without being disturbed on Congolese territory.

But why these attacks?

According to Kengezi-Base village chief Way Ada Obu, these South Sudanese soldiers presented "a list of rebels" who are refugees in the DRC and who are used to "attacking" them in their country. According to the same source, supported by local civil society, they are demanding the extradition of these "alleged rebels" who are believed to have been hiding among the refugees hosted in the Kakwa chiefdom.

To put an end to this obvious violation of the borders of a sovereign country by foreign soldiers, the Congolese government must urgently deploy the soldiers to the border between these two neighboring countries, said the chief of Kengezi-Base.

"I want the government to strengthen the military presence here. Our country is almost no longer inhabited. If the soldiers do not arrive, I too may leave this place, "he said.

"We want to strengthen the military. We want to live in peace, in all tranquility at home ”suggested some inhabitants interviewed.

Last week, a bilateral agreement was reportedly signed between the border authorities of the two countries who had gathered in the same village with the aim of restoring peace, but unfortunately no improvement in the situation has been noted on the ground. Just the next day, Saturday, June 13, these SPLA soldiers signed a double incursions into Kengezi-base where more than 14 houses were looted, border agents tortured, an Ak 47 weapon of a delighted policeman and a large sum of money taken before burning down a few houses and robbing shops belonging to local merchants.

For civil society, the option remains military and the Congolese government must do everything to deploy the FARDC soldiers along the border.

Goma spent the whole day in revolts over Vital kamerhe's fredoom

The Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) interfédération of North Kivu and several support organizations for vital Kamerhe, organized a peaceful demonstration this Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in the city of Goma.

Some protesters were arrested and scattered with tear gas by law enforcement while others managed to finish the demonstration and dropped their memo at the United Nations Mission (MONUSCO) headquarters in Goma ..

Protesters demand the acquittal of their leader and director of cabinet of the head of state, who is currently facing Congolese justice for alleged abuse of public money, as part of President Félix Tshisekedi's 100-day emergency program.

"Police violently repressed the march, there were tear gas, boxes, phones and bikes were delighted and many of our militants were arrested but others managed to make it all the way", said Daniel Mambo, Federal Vice-President of UNC in North Kivu.

In their MOU at the base of the MONUSCO, protesters seek the involvement of the international community because they consider vital Kamerhe's trial to be politicized as his guilt has not been proven after 5 hearing.

It should be noted that vital Kamerhe has been detained at the central prison of Makala in Kinshasa since 8 April for the abuse of public money. After 5 hearing, the court's sentence is expected on June 20, 2020 for Kamerhe and his co-accused.

( Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo;FARDC) captures 15 CODECO rebels,recovers 5 AK 47 guns in an operation 16/06/2020-17/06/2020.

 


Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) claim to have captured,during military operations between June 16 and 17, 2020, at least 15 CODECO militiamen and recovered 5 weapons of the AK-47 type, in Djugu.

"On the Rity-Wari axis, the army has inflicted a huge loss on the enemy side. After exchanging fire, the army legitimately neutralized 15 militias and 5 AK-47 weapons recovered during the Zaruba ya Ituri 2 operations. There were 3 wounded on the FARDC side " as indicated by the spokesperson of FARDC

In the Pkandroma region, in the Djugu territory, clashes took place during the night Tuesday to Wednesday, June 17, the FARDC and PNC elements on patrol against the Cooperative Militia for the Development of Congo (CODECO).

"A civilian was killed by enemy gunfire and three police officers injured. Currently, the situation is under the control of the regular army, "said Lt. Jules Ngongo.

According to spokesman Ngongo, in Walendu Djatsi, Pitsi, Tatsi, and even on the side of Mahagi territory, the population is beginning to "return" to their place of origin in a "s

In slow way", he announced.

Under the command of General Yav Avoul, the hunt for these militiamen continues normally in Djugu and Mahagi, until "forcing them to lay down their arms," ​​he concluded.

Active since 2017, the armed group of the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), is the source of several extreme atrocities, causing a worrying security and humanitarian situation, in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi, in Ituri.