The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) on Monday “strongly” condemned a string of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) assaults that left at least 52 civilians dead in the east.
MONUSCO said the ADF struck multiple locations in North Kivu’s Beni and Lubero territories between Aug. 9 and 16, killing eight women and two children. In a separate overnight raid in Komanda, Ituri province, 43 civilians were killed, including Catholic catechumens preparing for confirmation.
Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative in Congo and head of MONUSCO, called the attacks “intolerable” and serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, noting they followed an ADF attack on a church in late July.
The mission urged Congolese authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible. It said it has reinforced its presence in North Kivu and Ituri with joint patrols, additional troop deployments, and coordination with local authorities to protect civilians and stabilize affected areas. MONUSCO also reiterated the UN chief’s call for foreign armed groups to disarm unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.
The ADF, formed in Uganda, has expanded operations in eastern Congo in recent years, exploiting instability and local conflicts to carry out deadly attacks against civilians and security forces, often in rural zones.