Environmental Defenders – a Civil Society Organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is concerned about the volatile security in the Mokambu Chiefdom where there was loss of life, injuries, hostage and property loot.
In their press statement, the Environmental Defenders say five farmers were killed, 25 sustained injuries while seven held hostages reportedly by armed militia attached to the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO).
The incidents that took place on the Goma and Walla villages in the Ituri province targeted farmers and the fishing community on Thursday, September 1, 2023, Environmental Defenders report.
“The aforementioned attacks were executed by the armed insurgent organization known as Coopérative pour le Développement du Congo-CODECO. The Environmental Defenders express profound worry on the prevailing instances of insecurity. We urge the Ituri military administration to promptly act in order to restore peace within the community amidst the ongoing armed attacks.”
The flight of more than 200 farmers from their agricultural areas in the Ruvinga groupment due to an assault perpetrated by the armed incursion of CODECO and the atrocity it committed in the Musekere fishing village which is part of the Sumbuso groupment in the Bahema Nord chiefdom in Djungu territory.
During the Sunday to Monday August 21, 2023 occurrences, six fishermen and women including a child and three women as well as two men in uniform were reported killed, with an additional six people including farmers and fishermen hurt allegedly by CODECO.
According to the press release, CODECO fighters are seeking the freedom of their colleague who was captured by the DR Congo army and the police and incarcerated in Mahagi military jail before being taken to Buni military prison in the Ituri regional capital.
The statement further says CODECO states that unless their arrested colleague is released, the seven farmers detained during the armed attack on Gobu fishing village will not be released; demanding that the government must release their colleague or else they will kill the seven farmers who are so far detained for two weeks.
The CSO reveals that more than 11 farmers from Ruvinga grouping in Mokambo had been hospitalised at Logo General Referral Hospital for a week after purportedly surviving CODECO murder.
It is on background that Environmental Defenders urge the government of the DR Congo to act swiftly and save the citizens from such attacks.
“The Environmental Defenders urge the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo specifically the Ituri provincial military government and the Mahagi territorial military administration to ensure the safety and protection of the population residing in Mokambu Chiefdom. These individuals face significant threats to their lives as a result of the military progress made by the CODECO group within the Mahagi territory.”
Adding: “The Environmental Defenders teams are issuing an urgent appeal to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to deploy police and military forces to provide protection for farmers and their agricultural lands in several regions, including Ruvinga, Gobu, and Bena. Additionally, it is recommended that neighboring communities along River Kakoi, which are densely populated by farmers, also get adequate security measures to safeguard their farming activities.”
