KINSHASA - More than 20 people have been killed in vicious battles over land between villagers armed with machetes and rifles in the central Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Sunday. The fighting broke out Wednesday when residents of Bena Muembia village attacked their neighbours from Bena Nishimba some 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of the Mbuji-Mayi provincial capital of Katanda, officials said.Five people were killed as the fighting continued on Thursday and on Friday ‘there were around 20 dead and about 500 huts burned,’ provincial Governor Alphonse Ngoy Kasanji said. Despite police reinforcements being sent to the area on Friday the people of Bena Nishimba attacked another neighbouring village, Bena Kapuya, he said.
‘There is an old land conflict in the region,’ Kisanji said.
| The land has never been in conflict. The people have. |