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The attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, took place
Aug. 9-16 in the Beni and Lubero territories of the North Kivu
province, the U.N. mission MONUSCO said in a statement.
“The violence was accompanied by abductions, looting, the
burning of homes, vehicles, and motorcycles, as well as the
destruction of property belonging to populations already facing
dire humanitarian conditions,” the statement said.
The U.N. mission said the death toll of at least 52 was likely
to rise.
Eastern Congo has suffered several deadly attacks in recent
years by armed groups, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed
rebels. The ADF, which has ties to the Islamic State, operates
along the border with Uganda and often targets civilians.
Authorities said the group killed nearly 40 people in the Ituri
province last month, when it stormed a Catholic church during a
vigil and opened fire on worshipers, including many women and
children.
The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the
late 1990s following discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.
In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the
group moved its activities to neighboring Congo and has since
been held responsible for the killings of thousands of
civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The Congolese army has long struggled to contain the group,
especially while also confronting renewed conflict involving the
M23 rebel movement backed by neighboring Rwanda.
Congo and the M23 rebels had agreed to sign a permanent peace
deal by Aug. 18, but no agreement was announced on Monday. In
recent days, both sides have accused one another of violating a
ceasefire that was agreed as one of the conditions for a deal.
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