In a recent raid, suspected Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels have killed 20 civilians in Ituri province, located in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The victims were abducted during an ADF assault on the village of Babila Babombi in Mambasa and were later executed, with decapitation being a characteristic method of the ADF.
This attack is part of an ongoing pattern of violence by the ADF, which has a long history of targeting civilians in the region.
Originally Ugandan insurgents, the ADF has been a persistent threat in eastern DRC for many years. The victims included gold miners, traders, and farmers who were captured from nearby villages and then killed in a remote area.
The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2019, has faced joint military operations from both Congolese and Ugandan forces since late 2021.
However, these operations have not stopped the rebels’ violence, with some experts suggesting that the campaigns have only forced the rebels into more secluded areas.
