U.N. Discovers Over 15 Mass Graves in Congo Following December Violence, Reports Reuters

KINSHASA (Reuters) – A U.N. spokesperson announced on Tuesday that at least 15 mass graves have been discovered in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo following three days of ethnic violence in December.

In an earlier estimate, the United Nations reported that at least 890 individuals lost their lives during this recent wave of violence, marking some of the worst ethnic conflict in recent years. This turmoil underscores the fragile state of inter-ethnic relations in an otherwise peaceful region of the Central African nation.

A special team from the U.N. mission, MONUSCO, investigating the incident, identified at least 11 mass graves and 43 individual graves near the town of Yumbi. Additionally, they located four communal graves containing around 170 bodies in the nearby area of Bongende, according to spokesperson Florence Marchal.

Marchal stated, “While the conclusions of this mission are still being finalized, we can confirm that several hundred people, including many women and children, were killed in horrific circumstances.” She added, “The rapidity, the method of attack, and the high death toll indicate that these acts were premeditated.”

The violence was reportedly triggered by a dispute over the burial of a tribal chief, intensifying tensions between the Banunu and Batende communities. This conflict prompted the government to suspend voting in the region during last month’s presidential election.

Though the violence was not directly connected to the election held on December 30, a local activist indicated that the tensions had escalated as Batende leaders aligned with the ruling party while Banunu leaders supported opposition candidates.

Marchal reported that the situation in the area has stabilized, but cautioned that “tensions between the two communities remain pronounced and could deteriorate further.”

Maintaining stability in Congo is a critical challenge for President Felix Tshisekedi, who took office on January 24, marking the first peaceful transfer of power through an election in the country’s 59 years of independence.

The nation continues to grapple with instability years after the end of the 1998-2003 regional conflict, which involved neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, resulting in millions of deaths, primarily from hunger and disease. Various militia groups continue to operate in these regions.