Suspected Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels have killed 20 civilians in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The victims were taken hostage during an ADF raid on Babila Babombi, a locality in Mambasa. The rebels reportedly decapitated the victims, a common modus operandi for the ADF.
The recent attack is part of a series of similar incidents in the region. The ADF, originally Ugandan rebels, has been active in eastern DRC for decades, causing significant harm to civilians.
The victims were captured in attacks on surrounding villages and then executed in a remote location. The victims included gold miners, traders, and farmers.
The ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2019. The rebels have been accused of massacring civilians in both DRC and neighboring Uganda.
Joint operations by the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been ongoing against the ADF since late 2021, but the rebels continue to target civilians. Some experts believe that the operations have simply dispersed the rebels to more remote areas.