DRC: arrests of suspected militiamen in Kwilu province

A village in Kwilu province, DRC (illustrative image) AFP - JUNIOR D. KANNAH

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In the DRC, the public force achieves feats in the fight against inter-ethnic violence taking place in the Grand Bandundu area.

A new group of alleged militiamen arrested in Kwilu province was presented to Bandundu-ville.

Edged weapons and rifles were recovered from them. 

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With our correspondent in the DRC,

Kamanda wa Kamanda Muzembe

Forty people from different communities were arrested by elements of the battalion of the 11th military region based in the town of Bandundu, capital of Kwilu province.

Rifles and bladed weapons as well as other goods that they had confiscated from the populations of the attacked villages of the Wamba sector, in the territory of Bagata, were seized.

charges

The army accuses those arrested of committing atrocities in Misia and Kingulukapayi, burning homes, fields and killing residents.

Atrocities similar to those recorded in the territory of Kwamouth, province of Maï Ndombe since the beginning of interethnic violence between the Yaka and the Teke.

Machetes versus guns

At the start of the week, it was precisely in Kwamouth that other clashes took place.

And according to civil society, these fights left at least 17 dead.

The attacked villagers used machetes in the face of their gun-toting assailants.

This new violence is causing new population displacements.  

►Also read

: DRC: new arrests after intercommunity violence in Mai-Ndombe

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