BUNIA: At least 11 people have been killed in a recent militant attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials reported on Saturday, adding to the escalating violence in the volatile region.
The attack took place on Friday in the village of Mutuey and its surrounding area within the Irumu territory of Ituri province, according to the village chief, Adidas Mupitapilipo.
The assailants responsible for the attack were identified as militants affiliated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist-aligned group. Mupitapilipo stated that the ADF militants killed 13 people, although only 11 bodies could be recovered. However, the details of the attack could not be independently verified by AFP.
A security official in the area, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that 11 people had been killed by ADF fighters in Mutuey. Similarly, a local Red Cross official also reported that 11 individuals had fallen victim to the ADF attack.
Deadliest Militias Operating in Eastern Congo
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is considered one of the deadliest militias operating in eastern Congo and is recognized as the central African affiliate of the Islamic State group. The ADF has been accused of perpetrating
numerous atrocities against civilians, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives.
Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, the Congolese army spokesman for military operations in Ituri, confirmed the occurrence of an ADF attack in the area. However, he stated that he had no information regarding the exact number of casualties.
Armed groups have plagued the mineral-rich eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo for several decades. The ongoing violence is a legacy of the regional wars that erupted in the 1990s and 2000s, contributing to instability and human suffering.
