Armed Group Violence Continues in Djugu Amid Ebola Outbreak

Despite the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Ituri province, armed violence continues to plague the Djugu territory, claiming lives and causing injuries. Security sources report that four people were killed on Thursday, June 4, in a shooting incident attributed to CODECO militiamen in the village of Tchelo. The violence occurred while residents were gathered for a funeral. According to local sources, three individuals died at the scene, with several others wounded. The alleged perpetrator of the shooting was later killed by his own comrades. In a separate incident days earlier, FARDC soldiers were injured during an attack by CRP militia fighters on a military position near Iga-Barrière. Security forces also discovered a CRP arms cache near Nizi earlier this week, seizing eight AK-47 rifles, a light machine gun, and a significant quantity of ammunition. In response to the persistent insecurity, local civil society actors are calling on the government to escalate operations against armed groups. They implore the CODECO leadership to adhere to agreements made during the Aru II dialogue and urge the CRP to respect the ceasefire declared by its leader, Thomas Lubanga, to foster lasting peace in the province.