DRC/Uganda

400 killed by the Lord's Resistance Army, claims charity

Article published on the 2008-12-30 Latest update 2008-12-31 08:55 TU

Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army
(Photo: AFP)

Raids by fighters from Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on areas in northeastern Congo, including Faradje, Duru, Gurba, Doruma and Province Orientale, killed more than 400 people during a Christmas day massacre, according to a prominent aid group. There are difficulties in providing help to the affected people and the rebels deny responsibility.

The LRA killed 400 people in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo according to the Caritas aid group.

Bruno Miteyo, national director of Caritas Congo, who described the attacks said “more than 400 civilians” were killed, and claimed the massacre took place on Christmas day.

In a statement, Caritas said the LRA targeted a town which was a holding a Christmas concert and said attacks were taking place along the Sudanese border.

“It is really very difficult to access people who are running through the mountains and forests … the population has no help to survive,” Miteyo told RFI.

When describing the attacks, Miteyo, speaking from Kinshasa said, “there are no houses right now, because everything has been burnt.”

The rebels deny responsibility for the violence and placed blame on troops from the DRC, Uganda and Sudan.

Caritas is appealing for help from the government.

“Maybe if government armed forces can come and help... but right now it is really very difficult,” said Miteyo.