UN condemns deadly attack in refugee camp in DRC’s Ituri province

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, has condemned the killing of at least 45 people in the refugee camp of Lala, in Ituri province of central African country by armed militia men on Sunday.
Militia men aligned with Coopérative pour le Développement du Congo (CODECO) [Cooperative for the Development of the Congo], a rebel movement, attacked on Sunday to early Monday Lala camp housing hundreds of internally displaced people fleeing war between the Congolese and several rebel in groups in the eastern region of mineral resource-rich country.
The attack according to MONUSCO killed over 45 people and left 10 wounded.
“This attack constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and MONUSCO wishes to point out that deliberate attacks against civilian populations can constitute war crimes”, the mission said.
“MONUSCO urges the Congolese authorities to investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of these summary executions. The Mission stands ready to support any investigation aimed at determining responsibility and bringing the perpetrators to justice before national or international courts”, it added.
Aside from MONUSCO, Geneva-based Refugee Agency (UNCHR) also condemned the attack.
“UNHCR deplores in the strongest terms these heinous attacks against vulnerable civilian populations”, said Valentin Tapsoba Regional Director of the Southern African Bureau of the UNCHR.
“This cycle of violence must end. We call for collective efforts to pacify the conflict in Ituri province, so that the Congolese people can return to their homes, regain their livelihoods and live in peace”, he added.
CODECO claims to defend the interests of Lendu farmers, who have long been in conflict with Hema herders. Its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri province and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.