The United Nations office has reported a grim statistic: more than 300 individuals have been tragically killed by ADF rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of this year. These brutal executions have predominantly occurred across the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
The UN office specifically condemned a recent assault that took place during the night of May 30 to 31 in Ngadi, a village situated near Beni in North Kivu. Following this particular incident, the Congolese government confirmed that 15 civilians and one soldier lost their lives.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants have intensified their attacks within the Beni region, resulting in the deaths of over 40 civilians in a span of just three days. This surge in violence underscores the persistent threat posed by the group.
Operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the mid-1990s, the ADF rebels have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians over the decades. In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization, which subsequently designated them as its “Central Africa Province” and has since claimed responsibility for several of their violent operations.