16 villagers hacked to death in eastern DR Congo

Attackers armed with machetes and axes hacked at least 16 civilians to death in a night-time assault on their village in the volatile east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, UN and local officials said on Wednesday.

Local administrator Bernard Amisi Kalonda said the brutal attack took place late yesterday in the Beni region of North Kivu province, an area which has witnessed numerous massacres in the past.

“Between 8 pm and 10 pm (1900 GMT and 2100 GMT), the enemy managed to get past army positions and kill peaceful residents in their homes, slashing their throats,” he said. “The 16 bodies are in front of me, killed by machete or axe.” He was not able to say if the attackers were Ugandan rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), who  have long been active in the region.