Over 40 Killed in Violent Clashes Between Teke and Yaka Communities in Western DRCongo

At least 40 people have died in renewed violence between the Teke and Yaka communities in the western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The clashes, which reignited last week, mark one of the deadliest escalations since a peace agreement was brokered in April. Local authorities and the Congolese army confirmed the toll.

The conflict stems from a long-standing dispute over land and customary taxes. The Teke, indigenous to the area, accuses the Yaka of failing to pay traditional compensation for land use. This disagreement has sparked violence since mid-2022, leaving over 300 people dead and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

On Friday, the army clashed with the Mobondo militia, a Yaka-aligned group, in Kwango province. Army spokesperson Antony Mualushayi reported that 21 militiamen and two soldiers were killed in the ambush. However, the violence quickly spread beyond the battlefield.

In one of the most gruesome incidents, 12 civilians, mostly women and children, were burned alive in a village.

They locked the victims in a house and set it on fire, Mualushayi said in a statement.

The army also reported killing eight more Mobondo fighters in subsequent clashes. The fighting has continued, as some traditional chiefs reject the April peace agreement, claiming it was not inclusive.

Meanwhile, representatives of both communities in the capital, Kinshasa, have further inflamed the tensions. According to Mualushayi, these individuals have been stirring hostilities and complicating efforts to restore peace.

Reuters noted that the conflict, initially confined to Kwamouth territory, has spread to neighbouring regions like Bagata and Kenge. This expansion shows the challenges facing the DRC government, which is already struggling with instability in its western and eastern areas. Despite efforts to establish peace, the Teke and Yaka dispute remains unresolved. The Mobondo militia has also continued to carry out attacks.

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