A local official reported on Monday that militants affiliated with the Islamic State group have killed at least 12 people across multiple villages in North Kivu province, eastern Congo.
Fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) launched an attack on the village of Mukonia in eastern Congo on Saturday, according to the municipality’s mayor, Nicole Kikuku. The assault resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, with the toll potentially increasing as several villagers remain unaccounted for.
The frequency of ADF attacks has surged recently, with a significant incident in June where the group killed at least 40 people across various villages in North Kivu. Additionally, the ADF is suspected of orchestrating a massacre in neighboring Uganda last year, resulting in the deaths of 41 individuals, predominantly students.
In 2021, Uganda’s military conducted coordinated air, and artillery strikes against the ADF in eastern Congo in response to the group’s escalating violence.
Eastern Congo has faced persistent armed violence for decades, with over 120 groups competing for control over land, power, and valuable minerals, while others strive to protect their communities. Some factions have been implicated in mass killings.
The conflict has displaced nearly 7 million people, many of whom are cut off from humanitarian aid.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission, which had been engaged in countering rebel groups for more than 20 years, is scheduled to withdraw by the end of 2024. The mission’s departure follows a request from the Congolese government due to its perceived ineffectiveness in resolving the conflict. The phased withdrawal of the 15,000-strong force has commenced in South Kivu province.
Similarly, the Congolese government has directed an East African regional force, which was deployed last year to address the violence, to leave the country for comparable reasons.
