KINSHASA: At least 52 people have been killed in a series of brutal assaults carried out by Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to United Nations officials and local authorities.
The attacks, which took place between August 9 and 16 in the Beni and Lubero territories of North Kivu province, saw rebels armed with machetes and hoes target villages in night raids. Witnesses reported that civilians were bound with ropes, gathered together, and then hacked to death. In Melia village alone, about 30 people were killed, with women and children among the victims. Several homes were set ablaze during the raids.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, condemned the massacres, describing them as a deliberate attempt to spread terror among local communities. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as more information emerges from remote villages where communication and access remain limited.
The ADF, originally a Ugandan armed group, has operated in eastern Congo for decades and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019. The group has been responsible for repeated massacres in the region, often targeting civilians in retaliation against military offensives. Local sources said the latest wave of killings appeared to be a response to recent joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces.
The attacks add to a worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, already battered by escalating violence from multiple armed groups. Just last month, another armed faction, the M23 rebels, was accused of killing more than 300 civilians in Rutshuru territory, further deepening insecurity in the region.
Efforts to end the violence through peace talks have also faltered. A planned agreement between the Congolese government and M23 rebels in Doha, expected by August 18, failed to materialize, raising concerns of further instability.
Humanitarian organizations are warning of mass displacement and an urgent need for aid, as civilians continue to face relentless attacks from both the ADF and other armed groups. The UN has called on regional actors and the international community to intensify support for peace efforts and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain one of the most volatile conflict zones in Africa, where civilians continue to pay the highest price amid cycles of violence and failed peace initiatives.