What You Need to Know
At least 15 people, including two soldiers, were killed in a militant attack by the Allied Democratic Forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The assault targeted three villages in North Kivu province, leading to widespread panic among residents. Local officials reported gunfire lasting for hours, with homes set ablaze during the attack.
Africa. At least 15 people, including two soldiers, were killed in an attack by militants known as the “Allied Democratic Forces,” linked to ISIS, on three villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local officials and military sources.
This armed group, originally formed from former Ugandan rebels, launched its assault on the villages of Katanga, Mayindelo, and Kilonj in the Lubero area of North Kivu province. Local official Makair Sefikonal reported that the villages, located within a 7-kilometer radius, were attacked simultaneously during the “incursion of the Allied Democratic Forces.”
Sefikonal stated that gunfire was heard from 8 PM to 10 PM local time, causing panic among residents, and announced that the toll from the attack reached “15 dead and 13 houses burned.”
The military spokesperson in the region, Mark Ilongo, stated that “units of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ugandan army are pursuing this enemy” who has “instilled terror among peaceful residents celebrating” the New Year.
The Allied Democratic Forces was established in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the mid-1990s, killing thousands of civilians and carrying out numerous acts of looting and murder despite the presence of the Ugandan army alongside Congolese armed forces.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) originated from former Ugandan rebels and have pledged allegiance to ISIS. Established in the mid-1990s, the group has been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths and continues to carry out violent attacks despite the presence of Ugandan and Congolese military forces. The ongoing violence in eastern Congo is a result of complex regional conflicts and instability, exacerbated by the ADF’s activities.
