2 drunk soldiers kill 15 in eastern DR Congo; one arrested, the other shot dead

DRC CONGO

KINSHASA, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two soldiers have shot dead 15 people in separate attacks in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The victims, except for two military personnel, were almost all civilians.

An official in South Kivu province said a drunk soldier on a boat on Lake Tanganyika killed eight passengers including children before he was arrested.

On Sunday another soldier shot dead a colonel, his bodyguard and five civilians in Ituri province. The killer, also said to have been drunk, was shot dead by a colleague as he fled.

These killings comes after six people were wounded when soldiers threw a grenade into a crowd whilst trying to carry out an arrest.

For more than two decades people across eastern DR Congo have endured frequent attacks by dozens of armed groups.

President Félix Tshisekedi has said ending the violence is a top priority for his government.

A state of siege was imposed on two provinces almost a year ago.

But it’s had little effect, as the rebels and sometimes ill-disciplined Congolese soldiers continue to cause havoc. — NNN-AGENCIES

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