DRC: Militia Attack Leaves 70 Dead in Kinsele

Shocking militia attack in DRC’s Kinsele kills at least 70. Discover the latest updates and implications in our detailed report.

According to local authorities, a village in the western region of Democratic Republic of Congo fell victim to an attack by gunmen leading to the death toll rising up 70 individuals. The deceased included nine soldiers and one soldier’s wife as escalating violence continues between two communities at odds with each other.

On Saturday, Kinsele village – located roughly 100 km east of the capital city Kinshasa – was hit by an attack. Given the insecurity and inadequate infrastructure that characterizes the region, it’s not uncommon for fatal attacks to remain unreported for several days.

For the last couple of years, there has been a severe conflict between two nearby communities – Teke and Yaka – in Kwamouth territory where Kinsele is situated. This deadly feud has caused hundreds of civilian casualties. While the DRC faces challenges from armed groups located in the eastern region, violence remains rampant even on its western side.

An armed group known as the Mobondo militia, claiming to defend the Yaka people, was responsible for carrying out the attack.

David Bisaka, MPP of Kwamouth Territory, informed The Associated Press over the phone that 72 bodies have been retrieved this Monday morning (July 15), with ongoing efforts to search for additional remains in the bush.

Bisaka reported that security forces are currently scouring the area for corpses “following the successful expulsion of this militia by the army,” which marks their second defeat in one week. Previously, on Friday, Mobondo militants had made an initial attempt to assault the village in question.

According to Stanys Liby, the leader of a nearby village who spoke with U.N.-funded Radio Okapi, the casualties discovered following Saturday’s assault consisted of nine male soldiers and one female – the spouse of a soldier.

According to Human Rights Watch, the clash over customary claims and land in Kwamouth region flared up between groups of “indigenous” and “non-indigenous” communities in June 2022.

In June 2022, clashes broke out due to disputes over land ownership and traditional taxes among different ethnic groups residing in the region. The Teke people, who have a historical claim on the area were at odds with several other settlers including Yaka farmers that had migrated closer to Congo River more recently.

Despite the implementation of a ceasefire in April 2024, which was facilitated by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, clashes between the two communities have persistently erupted and even escalated over recent weeks. Despite this on-going conflict situation, efforts made by the Congolese Army to quell such violent activities remain fruitless.

The east of the country has been ravaged by violence for over a decade as government forces and 120 armed groups compete for control of valuable resources such as gold. The military is facing difficulties in containing this ongoing conflict.

In the recent months, militias and security forces have been engaged in violent conflict in the eastern region of the country. Tragically, just a few weeks ago an attack by militants on a gold mine located in Northeast Congo resulted in eight fatalities including six Chinese miners and two Congolese soldiers.