Tensions between the Nande and Hutu villages of luhanga in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) heightened on Sunday when thirty-four civilians were killed in a bout of ethnic violence

According to ceoafrica, the two have been at loggerheads over land, ethnic tensions and mineral riches since the Nande accuse Congolese Hutus of supporting Rwandan rebel group, while the Hutus claimed they are looking for land where they can settle for farming and accuse the Nande of trying to expel them.

"They started by attacking the FARDC, DR Congo military position during which another group was executing the population with bladed ammunitions," Bokele said.

Bokele added that one of the attackers was killed in the clashes.

Although the attack was targeted at a camp for displaced people, it’s the worst inter-communal violence in a year which has led to many peoples’ demise since the beginning of the year in fighting between the Nande and the Hutus.

"If the army had not intervened, there would have been many more casualties" a military source said.

"The militia was searching for members of the Hutu community and wreaked carnage before burning down the village entirely," said a local rights group, the Centre for the Promotion of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights (CEPADHO).

"The attackers were there for more than an hour."

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, said a peacekeeping force in the area had heard gunshots and was "quickly deployed and neutralised the attack", killing one of the attackers.

The UN mission said fifteen people were wounded and had been evacuated.