Photo Credit: Refugees International/ Sarah Martin
04/26/2005

On February 26, nine Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in an attack by militias in Ituri. The MONUC (peacekeeping force) leadership aggressively responded and set a deadline for disarmament of all militias by April 1. This increased action by MONUC drove almost 10,000 militia into the DCR (Disarmament and Community Reintegration) camps scattered throughout Ituri. Hardliners from the UPC (Union of Congolese Patriots) have clashed with both the Army of Democratic Republic of Congo and peacekeepers with civilians caught in the middle. Hard line militias have put a bounty on the heads of UN staff.