BUNIA: Suspected Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels have killed 20 civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) northeastern Ituri province, local sources said Thursday.
The attack occurred in the locality of Babila Babombi in Mambasa territory, an area frequently targeted by militant groups. “The victims were taken hostage Tuesday during an ADF raid,” police administrator Matadi Muyapandi said.
According to local sources, the victims were taken hostage on Tuesday during a raid by the ADF, a group originally from Uganda that has established a notorious reputation for brutality over the past three decades.
Police administrator Matadi Muyapandi said that the deceased included 16 men and four women. Four persons who managed to escape the attack have been hospitalized with injuries.
The victims, identified as gold miners, traders, and farmers, were captured from several surrounding villages before being executed in a remote forested area. The ADF, known for its brutal tactics, has reportedly beheaded the victims, a modus operandi consistent with its previous attacks.
Rams Malikidogo, a human rights defender in Mambasa, detailed that the victims were “grouped in the forest to be executed” following their capture.
The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in 2019, has been linked to several massacres and attacks in both DR Congo and neighboring Uganda. Despite joint operations conducted by the Congolese and Ugandan armies since late 2021, aimed at curbing the ADF’s activities, the rebels have continued their violent campaign.
