UN peacekeepers of MONUSCO operational bases in Fataki and Gina rescued 191 people who had been caught under fire from militiamen of the armed group Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP). On Tuesday, April 28, the group attacked the headquarters of a regiment of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in Pimbo, in Djugu territory, Ituri.
The attack caused significant material damage to the military camp. At the same time, clashes broke out between CRP elements and CODECO militiamen in the same locality.
Caught in the crossfire, nearly 200 people were forced to flee their homes in haste, finding themselves directly exposed to gunfire. Among them were mostly women and children.
After being alerted, UN peacekeepers deployed from the Fataki and Gina bases quickly rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, they coordinated their actions with the FARDC and local authorities to contain the violence, secure the area, and assist civilians.
UN troops immediately rescued 191 displaced persons — the majority of them children — who required urgent evacuation. The civilians were first sheltered in a school building in Pimbo before being safely escorted to the Kpawa internally displaced persons site in Gina.
On site, they were taken care of and handed over to local authorities, including the group chief and the president of the displaced persons, under secure conditions.
“Today, the situation has returned to calm, far from yesterday’s violence. The displaced people who were in the area were evacuated to Gina by MONUSCO in good security conditions. We commend their swift intervention as well as their collaboration with the FARDC. MONUSCO remains close to the population and attentive whenever it is alerted,” said Claude Mateso, a notable figure in Pimbo.
Other witnesses at the scene reported that the intervention of the peacekeepers helped save civilian lives and prevented further violence.
To prevent any resurgence of violence, robust patrols were conducted throughout the night in Pimbo and surrounding localities. This deterrent presence helped stabilize the situation and reassure the population.
This operation is part of MONUSCO’s mandate, which aims to ensure the protection of civilians in support of Congolese authorities. In Ituri province, the Mission is increasing patrols, preventive deployments, and community outreach efforts to reduce threats and strengthen security.
