Twenty people have reportedly been killed after three days of ethnic clashes between Twa Pygmies and Luba Bantus in Kabalo, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
According to Kalunga Mawazo who is the Member of Parliament for the area, the clashes erupted on Sunday and have been on for three days.
The MP confirmed to the local and international media outlets that four deaths were recorded among the Lubas and 16 were from among the Pygmies.
According to an independent source, a catholic priest, the Pygmies allegedly refused to pay a tax they considered illegal and killed two Lubas with an arrow.
“It was during a retaliatory attack that two more Lubas and 16 Pygmy bodies were found,” the Catholic priest added.
Tension remains high in Kabalo with security forces being sent to restore order and avoid more deaths.
In early September, local authorities had reported the resumption of hostilities between the two ethnic groups.
Since 2013, the North Katanga region has been the scene of many clashes between Bantus of Luba and Pygmies of Twa ethnicity.
