Kinshasa: At least 60 people were killed overnight when suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants attacked a funeral gathering in the village of Ntoyo, Lubero territory, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities and local leaders said the victims, who had gathered to bury a villager, were ambushed by the insurgents late Monday night.

The attackers, linked to the Islamic State group, stormed the ceremony using machetes and firearms, killing mourners indiscriminately. Witnesses reported that several people were shot while others were hacked to death, and vehicles nearby were set ablaze. Colonel Alain Kiwewa, the military administrator of Lubero, confirmed that around 60 bodies have been recovered so far, warning that the toll could rise as search efforts continue for missing persons.

This massacre adds to a growing wave of violence in North Kivu Province, where the ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel movement now aligned with the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province, has intensified attacks on civilians. The group has long been accused of mass killings, abductions, and raids on villages across the region.

The incident comes amid heightened instability in eastern Congo, where multiple armed groups, including the resurgent M23 rebels, continue to challenge state authority. A recent United Nations report documented widespread atrocities in the area, including rape, torture, summary executions, and forced disappearances, implicating both rebel groups and government forces. The UN estimates that more than 3,000 civilians have been killed since January 2024, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.

Adding to the turmoil, parts of South and North Kivu are experiencing economic distress and civil unrest. In Bukavu, shortages of usable cash have pushed residents to rely on damaged and hole-punched banknotes, sparking confusion and disrupting commerce. Meanwhile, in Uvira, security forces were accused of firing on unarmed demonstrators protesting alleged collusion between army officials and rebel factions, leaving several dead and wounded.

The Ntoyo massacre highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, where civilians remain trapped between rebel violence, economic hardship, and contested military operations. Calls are growing from local and international organizations for stronger protection measures and urgent humanitarian assistance to stem the escalating crisis.