70 killed, including nine soldiers, in militia attack in western Congo

At least 70 people, including nine soldiers and a soldier's wife, were killed when armed men attacked a village in western Democratic Republic of Congo, local authorities said, as violence intensifies between two rival communities.

The attack took place on Saturday in the village of Kinsele, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Kinshasa, the capital. Because of insecurity and poor infrastructure in the region, deadly attacks can take days to be reported.

Kinsele is located in the Kwamouth territory, where for the past two years conflict has raged between two local communities Teke and Yaka leading to deaths of hundreds of civilians.

As Congo battles armed groups in the east, violence has also intensified in the western part of the country.

The attackers were members of the Mobondo militia, an armed group presenting itself as defenders of the Yaka people.

As of this morning (Monday, July 15), 72 bodies have already been found and the search continues to find other bodies in t