Bodies recovered after deadly attack in Eastern Congo

News Bodies recovered after deadly attack in Eastern Congo A Congo trooper looks back from his vehicle during a patrol through the streets of Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, March 6, 2005.   -   Copyright © africanews SCHALK VAN ZUYDAM/AP2005 By Rédaction Africanews Last updated: 24/07 - 10:02 Democratic Republic of Congo After yet another violent attack in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, relatives gathered at a local health center Thursday to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones. Local residents said the Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamic State-allied extremist group known by its acronym ADF, attacked the Kikundo mining site, near the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces on Wednesday. “Among the victims was my brother-in-law, who was a gold miner. Everyone here was a gold miner. They were found doing their work; they were slaughtered like animals,” said Musubao Kiwanza. The violence in Ituri and North Kivu provinces has raged for decades, coming into the spotlight again last year when Rwanda-backed M23 rebels took over the eastern capital of Goma. Several armed groups operate in the mineral-rich region. But recently, the violence has hindered the response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, leaving many areas inaccessible to response teams, and keeping residents cut off from health clinics. A nurse at a local health center said he saw eight bodies arrive from the scene of the attack. “All of these victims were killed with machetes. None died from gunshot wounds. They had their throats slit while their hands were tied,” said Fiston Ndeze. In nearby Mununzi, where other victims were brought from the mining site, local resident Obed Kasereka counted bodies lined up on a tarp. He said there have been a series of small-scale deadly attacks in the region in recent weeks. "From the 10th until today, at least 19 people have been killed, here in Mununzi as well as in Njiapanda-Bela,” he said. Deaths in Congo’s Ebola outbreak passed 1,000 Wednesday, according to numbers released by the health ministry Thursday morning. The outbreak was declared on May 15 after spreading undetected for weeks. Experts say the first nine weeks of this outbreak have been worse than any other Ebola outbreak on record. Additional sources • AP You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 1 minute ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 53 minutes ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago Share More About Democratic Republic of Congo DR Congo Political crisis in DR Congo Congo politics DR Congo Opposition Presidential election Congo You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 1 minute ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 53 minutes ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago On the same subject NEWS 01:13 DRC launches Ebola vaccination campaign as outbreak continues to spread 30/08 - 10:37 NEWS 02:00 UN and partners strengthen Ebola preparedness in South Sudan border town 28/08 - 16:04 NEWS 01:36 UN chief says additional $1.1 billion urgently needed to fight Ebola outbreak 28/08 - 14:00 NEWS 01:37 DR Congo begins Ebola vaccinations as deadliest outbreak on record spreads 28/08 - 10:49 NEWS 01:08 WHO confirms Uganda Ebola-free, as virus continues to spread in DRC 27/08 - 09:14 NEWS 01:36 Pope Leo XIV calls for international response to deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo 29/08 - 11:04 More stories 01:25 General Abdourahamane Tchiani Calm returns to Niger's capital one day after failed army mutiny 8 hours ago 01:02 Coup Vote counting underway in Guinea-Bissau referendum that could expand presidential powers 6 hours ago 00:56 United Kingdom Notting Hill Carnival kicks off in a burst of colour and Caribbean tradition 3 hours ago