Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels armed with machetes and firearms have tragically taken the lives of at least 61 civilians during a funeral in eastern Congo, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday. This incident marks one of the most devastating attacks carried out by the group linked to the Islamic State in recent times.
Identified as the Islamic State — Central Africa Province (ISCAP), the militants claimed accountability for the assault that occurred on Monday, asserting that they targeted and killed nearly 100 Christians, reported the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, a watchdog for militant actions. The SITE report disclosed that approximately 30 residences were set ablaze during the assault on the funeral gathering in Ntoyo village situated in the Lubero territory of North Kivu in Congo.
Local administrator Macaire Sivikunula mentioned that the death toll had reached 61 individuals, with the victims being taken by surprise during a mourning ritual in Ntoyo village around 9 p.m., with a majority succumbing to machete wounds.
Additionally, authorities informed Reuters later on Tuesday that 18 individuals lost their lives in another suspected ADF attack in a separate village.
The ADF, originating as a rebel group in Uganda, has been entrenched in the forests of Congo since the late 1990s and is acknowledged by the Islamic State as an associate. The recent surge of assaults attributed to the ADF has heightened insecurity in eastern Congo, a region abundant in minerals where the Rwandan-backed M23 insurgents made significant advancements this year. These escalating tensions prompted the Trump administration to attempt peace negotiations.
In the past month, the ADF was responsible for over 50 civilian deaths in multiple attacks, while an assault on a church in July led to 38 casualties. Col. Alain Kiwewa, the military administrator for Lubero, expressed concerns that the death toll from Monday night’s incident might escalate as some individuals remain unaccounted for.
The assailants, in addition to using machetes, also resorted to shooting victims and setting vehicles ablaze, as noted by Samuel Kagheni, a local civil society leader.
Residents, including Alain Kahindo Kinama, reported that Congolese soldiers arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning, prompting many to flee the area. Congo’s army spokesperson, Lt. Marc Elongo, stated that the ADF militants had already carried out the massacre before the soldiers could intervene.
Both the Congolese army and Uganda, its ally, have intensified their operations against the ADF in recent weeks to combat the escalating violence in the region.