BENI: At least 20 people were killed in an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), local sources told AFP on Thursday who attributed the assault to militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group.
The incident, reportedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militant group, occurred in the Beni territory of North Kivu province, an area plagued by persistent unrest and armed conflict.
Nicolas Kikuku, mayor of the commune of Oicha and capital of Beni territory, confirmed the tragic event to AFP, stating that the victims were farmers who were attacked while cultivating their fields.
“The enemy always attacks the poor farmers,” Mayor Kikuku lamented, describing the brutal nature of the attack where victims were either shot or killed with knives in a village located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Oicha.
Darius Syaira, a representative of civil society in Beni, provided further details, stating that 19 bodies were initially brought to the morgue following the attack, with indications that additional casualties may have occurred in the same area.
“We are seeking military reinforcements in this region west of Oicha to launch a counter-offensive against the ADF, who continue to inflict suffering on our communities,” Syaira emphasized.
The ADF, originally composed of Ugandan rebels, has operated in eastern DR Congo for decades, perpetrating widespread violence and atrocities against civilians. Despite joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces launched in late 2021 against the ADF in North Kivu and neighboring Ituri province, the group has continued to carry out deadly attacks with impunity.
Notably, the ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, aligning themselves as its central African branch. This affiliation has heightened concerns over the group’s capacity to destabilize the region further and perpetuate violence across borders.
In addition to targeting Congolese civilians, the ADF has been accused of launching attacks in neighboring Uganda.
