MWE Correspondent
At least 52 civilians have been killed in a series of brutal attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in North Kivu province, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO).
The assaults took place between August 9 and 16 in several villages within the territories of Beni and Lubero, leaving communities shaken and terrified.
The attacks reportedly involved abductions, widespread looting, and the destruction of homes, vehicles, and motorcycles. MONUSCO warned that the death toll could rise as more information emerges from the remote villages affected. “These attacks are intolerable and represent grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law,” the mission said in a statement. (MONUSCO)
The ADF, originally formed by Ugandan rebels in the late 1990s, has operated in eastern Congo since 2002. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019 and has repeatedly targeted civilians in the region. Last month, the ADF killed more than 40 people during an attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, demonstrating a pattern of escalating violence.
In addition to killing civilians, the recent North Kivu attacks included kidnappings and the torching of property, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the area. Survivors have fled their homes, creating waves of displacement across already vulnerable communities. Humanitarian agencies have expressed concern that ongoing insecurity is preventing aid delivery to those most in need.
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The DRC government, with support from MONUSCO, has intensified military operations to protect civilians and stabilize the affected areas. MONUSCO has reinforced its presence in key villages, established safe shelters for displaced residents, and is coordinating with local authorities to track and respond to attacks.
The United Nations has urged all armed groups to disarm and end hostilities, emphasizing that civilians must not be targeted. The situation in eastern DRC remains fragile, as the region also contends with ongoing clashes involving the M23 rebel group in other parts of the country.
These repeated attacks underline the persistent risks faced by communities in eastern Congo and highlight the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian response and long-term peacebuilding measures. As MONUSCO and local authorities work to protect civilians, the international community continues to call for accountability and an end to violence that has plagued the region for decades.
