ADF Attacks in Beni: Denis Mukwege Condemns Massacres and Calls for Urgent Action

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege has vehemently condemned the recent attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Beni territory of North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The assaults, which occurred on the night of May 31st in the villages of Ngadi and Vemba, resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people. Mukwege, a former presidential candidate, expressed his deep indignation at this "new massacre" and extended condolences to the victims' families.

Mukwege specifically highlighted the violence directed at the indigenous Pygmy community, denouncing it as a grave assault on the DRC's cultural diversity and human heritage. He characterized the ongoing massacres in the region as part of a deliberate strategy of terror and forced displacement, alleging a "methodical project of identity cleansing and religious intolerance" by the ADF against specific communities in Beni, Ituri, and against Christian populations.

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I condemn with the utmost indignation the simultaneous attacks perpetrated by ADF terrorists on the night of Saturday, May 31, 2026, in Ngadi and Vemba.

The Nobel laureate issued a strong appeal to the international community, urging greater attention to the crimes being committed in eastern DRC. "It is high time for the international community to break with variable geometry solidarity and double standards when it comes to imprescriptible crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo," he stated. Mukwege emphasized that the persistent violence, which has caused significant loss of life and mass displacement over decades, can no longer be ignored.

Furthermore, Mukwege exhorted the Congolese authorities to intensify their efforts in protecting civilian populations and to implement concrete measures against the ongoing insecurity plaguing the eastern provinces. His reaction comes as the Beni territory continues to be a major hotspot for armed group violence, despite military operations. Civil society and human rights organizations are also calling for increased efforts to end impunity and ensure the safety of affected populations.

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It is high time for the international community to break with variable geometry solidarity and double standards when it comes to imprescriptible crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.