At Least 17 Killed in ADF Attack in Mambasa

Tragedy has struck the village of Alima in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, where at least seventeen civilians were brutally killed in an attack on Tuesday, May 19. Radio Okapi reports that the assault, attributed to the ADF rebels, has sent shockwaves through the community, with victims including members of the Pygmy population. This latest act of violence underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

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At least seventeen civilians were killed Tuesday, May 19, during an attack attributed to ADF rebels in the village of Alima, in the Mambasa territory (Ituri). Among the victims are Pygmies, according to civil society sources.

Eyewitness accounts suggest the assailants were sighted near the village around eleven o'clock local time, carrying out initial executions before launching a full-scale assault on the village center. Despite alerts to the relevant authorities, the rebels managed to inflict significant damage, setting fire to a hotel, numerous kiosks, and motorcycles. They also reportedly made off with goats, adding to the devastation. The aftermath has left many residents missing, and access to certain areas remains difficult, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

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The assailants were reportedly first spotted on the outskirts of the village around eleven o'clock local time, where two people were allegedly executed before the attack on the center of Alima, despite the alert given to the competent services, according to local sources.

The violence did not cease with the Alima attack. Reports indicate that the assailants continued their destructive path on Wednesday morning, moving towards the village of Manyama. There, two more civilians were allegedly killed, and several houses were set ablaze, with some residents reportedly taken hostage. This relentless aggression has prompted urgent calls from civil society actors for military authorities to bolster security across multiple villages in the area that remain under threat from the ADF. From the perspective of the local communities in Ituri, these attacks are not just statistics; they represent the ongoing terror and displacement that disrupt lives and livelihoods, demanding immediate and effective intervention from the Congolese government and its security forces.

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During this incursion, a hotel, several kiosks, and motorcycles were set on fire. Goats were also carried away by the rebels.