Six militiamen killed in clash with police in DR Congo city
Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - Six Bakata Katanga militiamen were killed on Friday in a clash with police in Rwashi communes and an annex in Lubumbashi, in the province of Upper Katanga, the Minister of the Interior of the province of Upper Katanga, Bobo Malulu, has told journalists.
"The current record shows six Bakata Katanga elements died on the spot and three seriously injured policemen who are being treated at Lubumbashi's Cinquantenaire Hospital," said Malulu after visiting the areas.
According to the Minister of the Interior, this insurrection is banned in DR Congo.
"All those who want to put our population of Haut-Katanga in jeopardy will stopped and brought to justice," he said.
On Friday, Bakata Katanga militia and police clashed at the outskirts of Rwashi and Annex communes. These militiamen intended to go downtown to disturb public order but they were neutralized by the police and some were arrested.
This situation created confusion among the population and paralysed commercial activities in the morning.
In 2013, these militiamen reached the city centre where they hoisted the flag of the former independent state of Katanga at the main post office.
Last July, another incursion of Bakata Katanga was neutralised by the police with two deaths and several arrests on the side of the insurgents.
These clashes are occurring while Gideon Kyungu Mutanga, former warlord who operated in the former "Triangle of Death", has for the past three been surrendered to the authorities.
Nearly 350 militiamen he led are scattered in the country's prisons.
-0- PANA KON/IS/KND/MA 12Oct2019
