A brutal attack in the town of Aru, in Ituri district’s northeast, left at least 14 people dead and 12 others wounded. The assault is attributed to individuals believed to be part of the Congo Development Cooperative militia, known as CODECO, operating in this region near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The dead and injured, including women and children, were moved to nearby medical facilities for treatment. A number of residents were reported to have been taken hostage as the situation unfolded through the night. This incident highlights the fragile security situation in Aru and the strain on local health services that respond to such sudden crises.
Local Radio Okapi reported that attackers, armed with rifles and edged weapons, looted substantial property and torched around twenty homes. The overnight violence has stoked fears among residents about further raids, while many expressed concern over what they view as insufficient military presence in the area, which they fear could limit the ability to prevent violence and protect civilians.
CODECO is a militia largely associated with members of the Lendu community, a factor that ties this violence to long-running intercommunal tensions in Ituri. The surge in attacks in recent months serves as a grim reminder of the broader conflict between the Hema and Lendu communities over grazing rights and political representation that escalated between 1999 and 2007, a period marked by widespread fighting and significant civilian harm amid the activity of various armed groups. In the region today, the echoes of that conflict persist in security gaps, humanitarian needs, and ongoing displacement as communities strive to cope with recurring violence.