The 2008 Christmas massacres were a series of attacks in several villages in Haut-Uele District, Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on 24–27 December 2008.

The rebels carried out the most devastating of their attacks from 24 December, waiting until people had come together for Christmas festivities, then surrounding and killing them by crushing their skulls with axes, machetes, and large wooden bats.

[9][10] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that as many as 225 people, including 160 children, might have been abducted and more than 80 women raped.

[3] According to Human Rights Watch, "the similar tactics and the near-simultaneous attacks indicate this was a planned operation meant to slaughter and terrorize as many civilians as possible".

[4] On 30 December 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned "the appalling atrocities reportedly committed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in recent days".