At Least 43 Killed in Attack by Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic

At least 43 people have been killed in an attack by a rebel group linked to ISIL (ISIS) in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the army. The attack occurred on Wednesday in Bafwakoa, located in Mambasa territory, in the province of Ituri.

According to Lieutenant Jules Tshikudi Ngongo, regional army spokesperson, at least 43 compatriots were killed and 44 houses torched during the attack. Two people were also abducted. The authorities have attributed the attack to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group led by former Ugandan rebels that has sworn allegiance to ISIL.

The ADF is believed to be present in significant numbers in the region, with attacks on civilians intensifying in recent months in parts of Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province. The group’s tactics have been described as avoiding direct combat with the army and instead targeting civilian populations, which has led to increased violence against civilians.

The Congolese army has launched joint military operations against the ADF since 2021, but the group continues to pose a threat in the region. In recent years, the ADF has been responsible for a significant proportion of reported violence against civilians in eastern DRC, according to data from Insecurity Insight.

Source: Al Jazeera