In a horrific act of violence, suspected Islamist rebels killed over 20 people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province on Wednesday. The attack occurred in the village of Mayikengo in Lubero territory, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.
Local officials, including Lubero administrator Alain Kiwewa and sector chief Macaire Sivikunula, confirmed the attack and blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) for the massacre. The ADF is a rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State that has been operating in the jungles of eastern Congo for nearly three decades, originally starting as a Ugandan insurgency.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants gathered residents in a market under the pretext of a meeting before unleashing a brutal attack with firearms and machetes. The death toll is estimated to be between 20 and 30, with women and children among the victims.
This attack is the latest in a series of brutal massacres carried out by the ADF in the region. Just last week, the group was responsible for killing over 80 people in similar attacks on villages in North Kivu province. The ADF’s actions have caused widespread fear and displacement among the local population, with many fleeing their homes to seek safety.
The Congolese government and international community have condemned the attacks, and efforts are underway to strengthen security measures in the region. However, the ADF’s ability to carry out such atrocities with impunity has raised concerns about the effectiveness of these efforts and the need for more decisive action to protect civilians in the region.
