At least nine civilians were killed Thursday evening (June 1st) in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in a new village attack attributed to the ADF, rebels affiliated with the Islamic State group, we learned Friday from local sources.
According to the Kivu Security Barometer (KST), a network of analysts based in eastern DRC, several people are also missing after this attack, which also left one seriously injured. "The ADF is suspected," says the KST.
'Perpetual killings'
The incursion by suspected ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels took place in the village of Museya Kanyamutsutsa, in Beni territory, said Delphin Maleki, vice-president of local civil society, who confirmed the death toll at least nine. According to him, in addition to hostages, the attackers took away "livestock and equipment". "It all started around 20:00 p.m. We were surprised by the ADF while we were in our homes," village resident Socrate Mumbere said by phone. According to him, "the death toll is ten - six men and four women", mostly killed by knives. "Goats, chickens, clothes were stolen" and shops vandalized, he added. "We condemn these perpetual killings, we ask for the security of our populations," said Delphin Maleki, regretting that the security forces did not react in time. However, according to him, Congolese and Ugandan soldiers are stationed only three kilometers from the site of this attack.
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Joint operations have been conducted by the two armies in the northern part of North Kivu and in the neighbouring province of Ituri since late 2021 against the ADF. Originally part of Uganda's predominantly Muslim rebels, the ADF has been rooted in eastern DRC since the mid-1990s, where it is accused of massacring thousands of civilians. They pledged allegiance in 2019 to the Islamic State group, which presents them as its branch in Central Africa, and are also accused of jihadist attacks on Ugandan soil. Several other incursions by suspected ADF rebels have been reported since early May in Beni territory by the Kivu Security Barometer. According to the KST, at least 15 civilians were killed on the evening of 27 May in three villages and about fifteen others on 19 May in another locality.