Loss and Grief: 24 Fatalities Recorded in Two ADF Attacks
Extremist rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) executed separate attacks this week, leading to the tragic deaths of at least two dozen civilians. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), with affiliations to the Islamic State group, carried out an assault in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, claiming the lives of 13 individuals in their residences, as reported by Christophe Munyanderu, Coordinator for the Respect for Human Rights Convention. In a nearby region, North Kivu province, the ADF employed machetes and guns to take the lives of at least 11 people in Beni territory on Monday, according to Colonel Charles Ehuta Omeonga, the region’s administrator.
The persistent violence in eastern DRC spans several years, entangling around 120 armed groups competing for dominance, territorial control, access to minerals, or safeguarding their communities. ADF attacks have intensified in recent times, reaching beyond Goma, the primary city in eastern Congo, into Ituri province.
Numerous human rights organizations and the United Nations have leveled accusations against the ADF, citing their involvement in heinous atrocities. These allegations include the killing of hundreds of individuals and the abduction of many, notably a significant number of children. The extremist group’s actions have precipitated a dire humanitarian crisis in the region, with civilians consistently enduring the brunt of the violence and pervasive insecurity. The international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating security crisis in eastern DRC and its severe repercussions on the civilian population.
