31 Killed in Fresh ADF Attacks in Eastern DR Congo

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Kinshasa: At least 31 civilians have been killed in a series of attacks by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local officials and security sources.

The attacks took place between Wednesday and Monday in the Babila Babombi area of Ituri province, with local civil society groups reporting 31 deaths. A security source, however, said the death toll could be as high as 50.

Officials said at least 18 people were killed in the mining village of Njiapanda-Bela on Friday. The ADF, an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State and originally formed by Ugandan rebels, has been blamed for the attacks.

Analysts say the group has increasingly targeted communities involved in cocoa farming and mining, demanding so-called ‘protection’ payments from residents. Areas that have resisted these demands have continued to face deadly assaults.

Ugandan troops have been supporting Congolese forces against the ADF since 2021, but the joint operations have failed to halt the violence. Local leaders say more than 190 civilians have been killed in the Babila Babombi area since the beginning of the year.

Pic Credit: AFP | File Image