More than 80 civilians were killed in a brutal late-night attack by the armed group CODECO in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this week, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, announced on Thursday. The assault targeted several villages in the Djugu territory of Ituri province, a region already struggling with ongoing violence and instability.
The death toll has risen sharply from the initial estimate of at least 51 fatalities reported by local authorities immediately after the attack, which occurred overnight on Monday. MONUSCO stated that its peacekeepers responded as quickly as possible, but the militants’ use of silent bladed weapons instead of firearms delayed their arrival. By the time peacekeepers reached the area, CODECO had already killed over 80 civilians, burned homes, and caused widespread panic.
“The armed group inflicted immense suffering before we could intervene,” MONUSCO said in a statement.
CODECO, short for the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, is one of many armed groups fighting over land, resources, and ethnic tensions in eastern DRC. The group has repeatedly attacked displacement camps, which have grown significantly due to recent advances by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
The M23 rebels have been gaining ground in the region. Last month, they captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, after days of intense fighting that left around 3,000 people dead, according to UN figures. Since then, the rebels have been moving south from North Kivu province into South Kivu province, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Local officials and aid organizations warn that the M23’s advance could lead to a catastrophe. Thousands of people have been displaced, homes and infrastructure destroyed, and essential services disrupted. Displacement camps, already overcrowded, are struggling to cope with the influx of people fleeing the violence.
Eastern DRC remains one of Africa’s most unstable regions, with multiple armed groups fighting for control and civilians paying the heaviest price. While MONUSCO and the international community are working to stabilize the area, the conflict’s complexity and the involvement of external actors like Rwanda make peace efforts challenging.
Humanitarian groups are urging for more support to help displaced families and prevent further loss of life. As violence continues to escalate, the people of eastern DRC face yet another wave of suffering in a long history of conflict.