In a horrifying display of violence, militants allied with the Islamic State group have killed at least 12 people in eastern Congo. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), known for their brutal tactics, carried out the attacks in several villages within North Kivu province on Saturday. The mayor of the municipality, Nicole Kikuku, confirmed the incident on national television, stating that the death toll could be higher as several villagers remain missing.
This latest attack marks a grim escalation in the ADF’s activities. Last June, the group was responsible for the deaths of at least 40 individuals in various villages across North Kivu. The ADF is also suspected of being behind the massacre of 41 people, including students, in neighboring Uganda last year. In 2021, the Ugandan army launched joint air and artillery strikes against the ADF in eastern Congo in an attempt to curb their operations.
Eastern Congo has been plagued by armed violence for decades, with over 120 groups vying for control of land, resources, and power. These groups are often accused of perpetrating mass killings, displacing millions of people and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The violence has forced nearly 7 million individuals from their homes, many of whom lack access to essential aid.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, which has been deployed for over two decades to combat rebel groups, is facing growing criticism for its inability to resolve the conflict. The Congolese government has requested the withdrawal of the UN force by the end of 2024, citing its lack of effectiveness. The three-phase withdrawal process has begun in South Kivu province, with the UN force numbering 15,000 personnel. The government has also ordered the departure of an East African regional force, deployed last year to assist in ending the fighting, due to similar concerns about its effectiveness.
