Death toll from militia clashes in central Congo was 49

KINSHASA: The death toll from clashes that erupted in central Democratic Republic of Congo last week was at least 49 people, of whom 16 were police, the governor of the province Alex Kande said on Monday.

Militia fighters from Kamwina Nsapu, seeking to avenge the death of their leader, battled security forces in two days of fighting from Thursday last week.

Kande said 27 of them were killed along with six civilians.

Initial estimates had put the toll at 13.