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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Conflict & Security

ADF Rebels Kill at Least 26 in New Massacre in Oicha

From Radio Okapi · (9m ago) French Critical tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • At least 26 people, including farmers, were killed in an attack attributed to ADF rebels in the Babila-Bakaiko agricultural areas near Oicha, North Kivu.
  • Local civil society urged authorities to intensify military operations against the rebels and advised residents to avoid the threatened fields.
  • Joint FARDC-UPDF forces have been deployed to the area and are pursuing the assailants.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is once again reeling from the brutal violence perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern North Kivu province. This latest massacre, which claimed the lives of at least 26 civilians, primarily farmers working in the fields of Babila-Bakaiko, underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing the region.

The attack occurred in the agricultural areas of Babila-Bakaiko, located about 40 kilometers west of the rural commune of Oicha, Beni (North Kivu).

— Local Civil SocietyDescribing the location of the attack.

Local civil society organizations have voiced their outrage and desperation, calling for decisive action from the Congolese and Ugandan forces (FARDC-UPDF) to hunt down these rebels. The plea to avoid the fields highlights the terror that has gripped the population, disrupting livelihoods and forcing people to abandon their agricultural activities.

She calls on the authorities to intensify military operations to track down these rebels.

— Local Civil SocietyDemanding action against the perpetrators.

This attack is a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, where armed groups continue to sow terror and instability. The international community's attention often wavers, but for the people of Beni and surrounding areas, this is a daily reality. The government's commitment to eradicating these rebel groups is constantly tested, and the effectiveness of joint military operations remains a critical concern for the safety and security of its citizens.

She also urges the population to avoid going to the fields located in these areas now under threat.

— Local Civil SocietyAdvising residents on safety measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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