Members of the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), an armed group accused of ethnic attacks has this morning entered Bunia, the capital city of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to pictures obtained by the Kampala Post, the CODECO rebels are seen being escorted by the police and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) as they enter Bunia.
According to a highly placed source on the ground, the rebels’ mission is to release prisoners from the Central Prison in Bunia.
The source that prefers anonymity says this act means that there is definite collusion between FARDC and CODECO.
FARDC is the state organization responsible for defending the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Last month, at least 19 civilians were killed and two others wounded in attacks on three villages in the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) province of Ituri.
The attacks believed to have been carried out by CODECO took place in the Banyali Kilo area.
CODECO is drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, a predominantly farming community who have historically clashed with the Hema, a group of traders and herders.
Since March, CODECO members are said to have killed over 300 people in Ituri province.
The Congo conflict
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the second-largest country in Africa, has been mired in conflict for decades. A country of paradoxes, it is a land rich in natural resources, but its people are among the poorest in the world.
While the DRC has vast amounts of oil, diamonds, gold, and other natural resources, a majority of the population — about 64% — is considered extremely poor and lives on less than $1.90 a day, according to World Bank estimates.
The country is fraught with political instability, armed clashes, and human rights violations.
