At least 15 people have been killed in a series of attacks by Islamic State-linked rebels in eastern DRC, according to local officials, as violence against civilians continues to plague the region.
The attacks took place on Thursday night in three villages in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, an area that has repeatedly been targeted by the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF. The group, which originated as an insurgency in Uganda, has been operating from forested areas of eastern DRC since the late 1990s and is recognised by Islamic State as an affiliate.
Local authorities said nine civilians were killed in Kilonge village, while two civilians were killed in Katanga. In Maendeleo, two civilians and two soldiers were reported killed during clashes between the attackers and government forces.
Officials said most of the victims were killed using bladed weapons, though gunfire was exchanged during the assault on Maendeleo. Homes were also set ablaze, further deepening the humanitarian toll on affected communities.
The Congolese army said its forces were pursuing the attackers, without providing further operational details. Civil society leaders in the area warned that insecurity remains high, delaying burial arrangements for the victims due to fears of further ambushes.
The latest killings come amid a broader pattern of ADF violence in eastern DRC. In recent months, dozens of civilians have been killed in similar attacks, including mass casualties reported at a funeral gathering last year.
The ADF violence is separate from the conflict involving Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and fuelled regional tensions, drawing increased international mediation efforts.