In a brutal overnight assault, a militia with ties to the Islamic State group launched coordinated attacks on three villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving at least 14 people dead, military and local sources confirmed on Friday.
Simultaneous Raids Spark Panic
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out the incursions within a seven-kilometre radius in the northwest of North Kivu province. Local leader Macaire Sivikunula stated that the three villages were hit simultaneously, causing widespread panic among residents.
Villagers were terrified as intense gunfire erupted between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Sivikunula reported that 15 people lost their lives and 13 houses were set ablaze during the assault. Accounts from residents corroborated the deadly nature of the attack to AFP.
Military Confirms Casualty Toll
The Congolese army provided an official statement through Lieutenant Marc Elongo, the regional army spokesperson. He confirmed the ADF terrorist incursion in the Bapera sector, putting the death toll at 14. The victims included 12 civilians and two soldiers from the Congolese army who were killed in the line of duty.
A Persistent and Deadly Threat
The ADF, which originated from Ugandan rebel factions, has been a destabilising force in northeastern DRC since the 1990s. The group is notorious for targeting defenceless civilians and is responsible for the deaths of thousands over the years.
Despite a joint military operation launched in 2021, which saw Ugandan troops deployed alongside Congolese forces to combat the ADF, the violence has persisted. The militants typically employ hit-and-run tactics, attacking vulnerable communities and then retreating into the region's vast forests before military reinforcements can arrive.
This latest attack underscores the severe and ongoing security challenges in the region, highlighting the militant group's continued capacity for violence despite concerted efforts to neutralise it.
