Africa-Press – Rwanda. An attack by the Islamic State-affiliated ADF militia killed at least 50 people at a funeral wake on Monday, September 8, in eastern DR Congo, reports said.
Close to 150 civilian deaths have been linked to the UN-sanctioned terrorist group since late July.
The latest attack took place on Monday night in the town of Ntoyo in North Kivu province’s Lubero territory.
“I can confirm a provisional death toll of 50. The victims were caught off guard at a mourning ceremony in the village of Ntoyo at around 9 p.m., and most of them were killed with machetes,” Macaire Sivikunula, a local administrator, told Reuters. “The search is continuing.”
Colonel Alain Kiwewa, the military administrator for Lubero, told Reuters Monday night’s death toll was around 60 and could rise as there were still people missing.
The latest ADF attack brings the number of civilians killed by the militia since late July close to 150.
At least 54 were killed in attacks on several villages in Beni and Lubero territories on August 16. Another 47 had been killed in a church on July 27, sparking a global outcry.
The UN-sanctioned ADF is one of the most notorious militias in DR Congo’s conflict-ridden eastern region. Based in Ituri province, the group originates from Uganda and has been active for nearly three decades.
An attack on a Ugandan school by the Islamist militia killed at least 40 children in June 2023.
After an agreement with DR Congo, Uganda deployed troops to Ituri in 2021, under Operation Shujaa, to hunt down the militia. The operation is still ongoing.
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