14 Killed in Attack in DR Congo

In an attack on a town in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, close to the Angolan border, authorities said that at least 14 people had been murdered.

According to Adelard Nkisi, a spokesman for the province administration of Kwango, "machete blows" and gunshots were used to kill the victims in Ipongi.

Speaking under the condition of anonymity, a village religious leader verified the death toll and claimed the attack on Friday came after militiamen were recently arrested and another team was dispatched to "free four members" of their organization.

Symphorien Kwengo, a prominent member of civil society in the Kwango region, attributes the problem to the armed Mobondo movement, which was established in the neighbouring Mai-Ndombe province last year.

The provincial spokeswoman said actions were being made "to try to bring the situation under control".

In June 2022, a land dispute between the Teke people and outsider groups erupted in conflict in Mai-Ndombe region.

Kwango, Kwilu, and Kinshasa, three nearby provinces, also saw warfare.

According to estimates from the UN, between June 2022 and July 2023, the fighting claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people.

The death toll has remained at 180 according to the DRC government till October 2022.