Islamic State-affiliated militants have carried out a series of attacks in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Lubero territory, resulting in the deaths of 89 civilians, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants conducted these attacks in various locations in North Kivu province from November 13 to November 19. Among the victims were 20 women and an unspecified number of children, as reported by MONUSCO.
During one of the assaults, the rebels targeted a health facility run by the Catholic Church in Byambwe, where at least 17 individuals, including pregnant women seeking maternity care, were killed. Additionally, four patient wards were set ablaze by the attackers. The rebels also engaged in other atrocities, such as abductions and the pillaging of medical resources.
MONUSCO has called on Congolese authorities to initiate immediate independent investigations to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these massacres. Local officials had previously informed Reuters of a similar incident where suspected ADF rebels killed 19 civilians in an overnight raid in the village of Mukondo in North Kivu province.
In a separate incident in September, the ADF claimed responsibility for a deadly attack that resulted in the deaths of over 60 civilians at a funeral in eastern Congo. Originating in Uganda, the ADF has been operating in the forests of Congo since the late 1990s and is recognized by the Islamic State as an affiliate.
Efforts to counter the ADF’s activities have been ongoing, with the Congolese army and Ugandan forces conducting operations against the group. However, the ADF’s assaults persist. Meanwhile, parts of North Kivu province are controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who made significant territorial gains this year.
International mediators, including the United States and Qatar, are actively involved in peace negotiations to resolve the conflict in the region. These efforts are seen as crucial for promoting stability and attracting Western investments in the mining sector, according to U.S. officials.
