Tribal conflict claims 54 lives in Congo

AT least 54 people were killed this week in renewed tribal fighting in northeast Congo, close to the town of Bunia, where an international force has been deployed to keep the peace.

A United Nations spokesman in Bunia confirmed there had been heavy fighting around the town of Tchomia, but said it had not been possible to confirm the death toll.

“There have definitely been attacks with heavy weapons,” Leocadio Salmeron said. “But we don’t have a reliable death toll. The rebels say there were attacks on Tchomia and Kaseni in the last few days ... that there are 54 dead and a hospital destroyed, but it is not confirmed.”