Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) - Nineteen people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a machete attack in a region of the Democratic Republic of Congo that has been repeatedly attacked by Ugandan rebels, according to an updated death toll Thursday.
"We deplore the deaths of 18 people plus a pregnant woman, who was beheaded," Amisi Kalonda, administrator of the Beni area where the attack took place, told AFP.
In all, nine of the victims were beheaded, he added.
On Wednesday, Kalonda had reported five dead in the attack in Mbau, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the town of Beni in DR Congo's eastern North Kivu province.
North Kivu borders Uganda and Rwanda.
Kalonda said the victims were killed "as they were going to work in the fields" on Wednesday morning.
Kalonda blamed the attack on rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces and National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF-NALU).
The rebels, who have been active in eastern DR Congo since being driven out of their homeland in 1995, are suspected of a spate of machete massacres in the Beni area since late last year that have killed around 300.
Critics fear Togo reforms leave little room for change in election
Flooding: Obey weather warnings – NADMO to general public
Fire in NDC over boycott of Ejisu by-election
NDC to outdoor Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as running mate today
Ejisu: CPP seeks injunction to stop April 30 by-election
Dismiss ECG, GWCL, GACL bosses over losses – United Voices for Change tells gov’...
Submit 2023 audited financial statements by May – Akufo-Addo order SOEs
Current power outages purely due to mismanagement – Minority
ECG hoists red flag to fight Ashanti Regional Minister over arrest of General Ma...
Mahama’s 24hr economy will help stabilise the cedi; it’s the best sellable polic...
