At Least 13 Dead in DRC Attack Attributed to ISIS-Linked Group

At least thirteen people have died and several remain missing following a brutal attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militia with ties to the Islamic State group.

The assault occurred Thursday night in the village of Banana École, near Mambasa in the Ituri province. ADF rebels reportedly set fire to homes, businesses, two trucks, and three motorcycles before retreating. Local civil society representatives in Mambasa expressed strong criticism, stating they had alerted security forces earlier in the week about the armed group's presence in the area but claimed insufficient preventive measures were taken.

These representatives are demanding increased logistical support and troop reinforcements for the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). They also called for intensified operations by the coalition involving the Congolese Army, the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), and the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to neutralize the rebels and facilitate the return of displaced residents.

The territorial administration confirmed that military actions are underway to contain the insecurity and restore order in the Mambasa territory. The ADF, an Ugandan-origin militia frequently launching attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States since March 2021. Joint military operations between Uganda and the DRC, initiated in November 2021, have so far failed to halt the ongoing hostilities in the region, which has been plagued by conflict involving numerous rebel groups and the army since 1998.