At least 14 people have been killed in a militia attack
in eastern Congo this week, a government official said on Friday.
The incursion in Mantumbi, in the district of Beni, has been
attributed to radical Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels,
Donat Kibwana, the administrator of Beni territory, told dpa.
"Assailants invaded the village of Mantumbi on Thursday around 3pm in
heavy rain, killing 14 people," he said.
The news comes just days after 12 were killed in similar attacks on
Tuesday.
According to local human rights organization CEPADHO, more than 150
people have been killed by rebels since October.
Armed groups - many of whom are concerned with wresting control of
natural resources - have carried out repeated attacks in eastern
Congo.
Dozens of people have been killed in the past few weeks alone.
An estimated 160 rebel groups with a total of more than 20,000
fighters are active in Congo's east.
Among them is the ADF, originally from Uganda, which repeatedly
carries out attacks around Beni. It has been accused of killing
thousands of people, including United Nations peacekeepers.
The UN has tried to stabilize the country for the past 20 years with
a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force.
In recent weeks, however, the residents of Beni and other cities have
demonstrated their dissatisfaction at government and UN protection,
saying not enough is being done to prevent the insurgents.
An epidemic of Ebola, which is difficult to control, is also raging
in the region mainly because of the poor security situation.
The incursion in Mantumbi, in the district of Beni, has been attributed to radical Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels
