At Least 10 Killed and Several Kidnapped in ADF Attack in Eastern DRC
At Least 10 Killed and Several Kidnapped in ADF Attack in Eastern DRC
- At least 10 people have been killed and several others abducted
- Several homes were also set on fire during the attack
- The ongoing violence has displaced nearly 7 million people across the region
At least 10 people have been killed and several others abducted in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to military officials.
The assault took place on Sunday night in the Batangi-Mbau area of North Kivu province.
Several homes were also set on fire during the attack, said military spokesperson Mak Hazukay.
“We urge the population to remain vigilant, and we assure them that we will drive the enemy from our territory,” Hazukay stated.
Eastern DRC has long been plagued by armed conflict, with over 120 militia groups vying for power, land, and control of valuable mineral resources. Some groups are also engaged in efforts to defend local communities. Many of these armed factions have been linked to massacres and human rights violations.
The ongoing violence has displaced nearly 7 million people across the region.
In recent years, the ADF’s attacks have intensified, spreading beyond North Kivu to Goma, the region’s largest city, and into neighboring Ituri province. Human rights organizations and the United Nations have accused the ADF of carrying out widespread killings and abductions, including of children.
Earlier this month, the ADF was responsible for the deaths of at least 13 people in a separate attack in another village in North Kivu.
