Dozens of people were killed by armed men who raided a mining encampment near the town of Mongwalu in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province on Sunday.

Three civil society leaders, who confirmed the casualties on Monday, said several people were also missing.

Army spokesperson Jules Ngongo Tsikudi confirmed a deadly attack at a mining camp near Mongwalu but did not detail the number of casualties.

“In the following hours, we will know the exact number of deaths. The army is working day and night to eliminate the armed groups here in Ituri completely.”

But civil society leaders estimated that between 30 and 50 people were killed. One said the local hospital had been overwhelmed by the number of victims.

Dieudonné Lossa, who leads a collective of civil society groups in Ituri, blamed the killings on the CODECO militia, which has built a reputation for attacking civilian encampments.

“The authorities were warned because rumours were already circulating, but misfortune followed,” Mr Lossa said.

Reuters was unable to reach the group for comment on Sunday.

CODECO militia killed 18 people at a church in April, and another 60 at a displaced person camp in February, authorities said.

Attacks on civilians are daily hazards in Congo’s eastern provinces, where groups like CODECO and other warring militias and a local Islamic State affiliate routinely spar for territory and resources.

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, such conflicts have claimed the lives of thousands and displaced millions more since the turn of the decade.

May marks one year since Congo’s government declared martial law in Ituri and its neighbouring North Kivu province to quell the violence.

However, deadly raids have only surged since then, according to the Kivu Security Tracker, which monitors the conflict in the region. 

(Reuters/NAN)