At least 10 people were killed and several others kidnapped in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu province, a military spokesperson announced on Monday.
The attack occurred on Sunday night in the Batangi-Mbau area, where the ADF also set several homes ablaze, according to spokesperson Mak Hazukay. He urged residents to remain vigilant, pledging that military forces would expel the rebels from the region.
Eastern DRC has long been a hotspot of violence, with over 120 armed groups vying for power, land, and access to valuable minerals, while some militias claim to protect local communities. The ongoing conflict has displaced nearly 7 million people.
The ADF, known for its increasing brutality, has extended its attacks to areas like Goma and neighboring Ituri province. Rights organizations and the United Nations have accused the group of mass killings and widespread abductions, including targeting children.
Earlier in November, the ADF killed at least 13 people in another village in North Kivu, marking a continuation of their intensified assaults in the region.