Shooting in Congo Claims 13 Lives, Including 9 Children

The army of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced today, Sunday, that at least 13 people, including nine children, were killed when a soldier opened fire on attendees gathering to mourn the death of his child in the eastern part of the country on Saturday evening. The shooting incident occurred in the village of Nyakova overlooking Lake Albert in the Ituri region of eastern Congo. A military spokesman in the Ituri region stated via phone: "The soldier shot at everyone around him. Ten people were killed," confirming that a search for the soldier, who belongs to the navy, is ongoing and that an investigation into the incident has begun. Village leader Oscar Baraka Mugua reported that 13 people were killed, including nine children. According to the village leader, the soldier was concerned that his child would be buried alone without him.