At least 19 civilians were killed in an overnight attack in the village of Mukondo, North Kivu province, in eastern Congo, local officials said Monday, in what is believed to be the latest assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with the Islamic State.
Alain Kiwewa, the military administrator of Lubero territory, confirmed the attack and warned that the death toll could rise. The ADF, also known as Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), has not claimed responsibility, but the group has been behind a series of deadly assaults in recent months, including a September attack on a funeral that killed more than 60 civilians.
According to local sources, the assailants wore Congolese army uniforms, allowing them to enter the village without raising alarm. Once inside, they used firearms, knives, and clubs to carry out the killings. A local pastor, speaking anonymously for security reasons, described the attack as brutal and unexpected.
Espoir Kambale, a civil society leader in the area, corroborated the casualty figures and reported that eight people were wounded and 26 homes were set ablaze. โWe are asking ourselves how the rebels could come and attack us when we believed the village was well secured,โ Kambale said. โThe population is in a state of panic. Some residents fled into the bush and have not returned.โ
The ADF originated in Uganda but has operated from the dense forests of eastern Congo since the late 1990s. Its affiliation with Islamic State has raised alarm among regional and international security observers, particularly as the group intensifies attacks on civilian populations.
The latest violence adds to the growing instability in eastern Congo, where the resurgence of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has further strained security. The deteriorating situation has prompted renewed diplomatic efforts, including attempts by U.S. President Donald Trumpโs administration to mediate peace in the region.
