ADF Kills 40 Civilians in Eastern Congo Attacks

An Islamic State-affiliated militia attacked villages in eastern Congo near the Ugandan border, killing at least 40 civilians, according to a local civil society group.

The assaults occurred overnight from Wednesday into Thursday afternoon in the Beni territory of North Kivu province and neighboring Ituri province, said Charité Banza, leader of the Ituri civil society group. He reported 25 deaths in border villages in Beni and 15 others in Ituri. Kinos Katua, a group member who lives in the area, confirmed the toll. Attackers also burned and looted several homes, Banza added.

The Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, carried out the strikes. The group originated in Uganda and has operated for years in the volatile border region between the two countries. It pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, aligning itself with the global jihadist network.

This week's violence underscores the persistent insecurity in eastern Congo, where multiple armed groups vie for control amid rich mineral deposits and weak state authority. The ADF has intensified attacks in recent years, targeting civilians and contributing to one of Africa's longest-running conflicts.