At least 50 civilians have been killed in a series of suspected rebel attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local reports.
The killings, attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), took place between March 9 and 15 in the Muchacha and Babesua areas of Ituri province’s Mambasa territory, Radio Okapi reported, citing civil society sources.
At least 35 people were killed at a gold mining site in Muchacha, while another 15 were killed in Babesua.
The ADF, a long-standing armed group in eastern Congo with links to the Islamic State (ISIS), has intensified attacks on civilians despite ongoing joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces since 2021.
In addition to the killings, the attackers reportedly looted property, burned homes, and forced dozens of residents to flee, particularly along National Road 4.
Local civil society groups have called on authorities to urgently restore security and state control in Ituri, warning of a worsening humanitarian situation.
Earlier this week, the government condemned a separate wave of deadly attacks targeting mining sites in the region.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also warned that continued violence is driving mass displacement, with overcrowding reported at already strained displacement sites.