Militia kills 17 hostages in DR Congo

The CODECO militia in eastern DR Congo has executed 17 hostages it took the previous day, according to local sources. The hostages were captured in the Djugu territory, around 45 kilometres north of Bunia in Ituri province. CODECO is one of many armed groups operating in the mineral-rich region. The militia claims to protect the Lendu community from the Hema ethnic group and the army. Dozens of people have been killed in Ituri province every week since the end of 2022.