Rebel attack kills 43 in northeastern DR Congo: army

At least 43 civilians were killed in a brutal attack by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked to Islamic State, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said on Thursday.

The attack took place in the village of Bafwakoa, near the border with Uganda. The ADF, originally formed in Uganda, operates across the porous border and has been responsible for repeated attacks targeting civilians in the region.

According to local sources, militants arrived in the village in the evening, setting homes on fire and carrying out killings. Samuel Banapia said the attack began around 7 p.m., with dozens of residents killed.

Officials reported that many victims were killed using machetes, while several people remain missing. At least two individuals were abducted during the attack.

The assault comes amid ongoing instability in eastern Congo, where government forces are battling multiple armed groups. Among them is the M23, a separate rebel faction reportedly backed by Rwanda, which has seized key areas in recent months.

Military spokesman Jules Ngongo said the ADF typically avoids direct confrontation with the army, instead targeting civilians in attacks that undermine peace efforts and spread fear among communities.

The number of ADF fighters active in Congo remains unclear, but the group continues to pose a major security threat. Founded in the late 1990s, it pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019 and has since intensified its operations.

Violence linked to the ADF has increased in recent years, particularly near the Uganda border and extending toward Goma and Ituri province. In a similar incident last year, at least 66 people were killed and several others abducted in a nearby area.