Extremist rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been implicated in a series of attacks resulting in the deaths of at least two dozen civilians this week, according to local authorities and a civil society group on Tuesday.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), known for its ties to the Islamic State group, allegedly carried out a massacre in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, claiming the lives of 13 individuals on Tuesday, as reported by Christophe Munyanderu, Convention Coordinator for the Respect for Human Rights. Munyanderu stated that a majority of the victims were fatally attacked in their residences.
In a separate incident on Monday, the ADF reportedly used machetes and guns to kill a minimum of 11 people in Beni territory, North Kivu province, according to Colonel Charles Ehuta Omeonga, the region’s administrator. Omeonga expressed concern that the death toll could rise further, as civilians were targeted in their homes, and some individuals remain unaccounted for.
The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a hotspot for violence, with approximately 120 armed groups vying for control over power, land, minerals, or the security of their communities.
In recent years, ADF attacks have escalated and extended to Goma, the principal city in eastern Congo, as well as Ituri province. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have accused the ADF of perpetrating numerous killings and kidnappings, including a significant number of children.
