At least 19 people were killed in the early hours of Sunday in an attack on a community in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by suspected Islamic militants, who also destroyed a medical facility. Only a few kilometers away from another attack on a nearby community that claimed the lives of at least 35 people a week earlier, the town of Kirindera in the North Kivu region was the target.
According to reports, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Ugandan armed group, was held accountable for last week’s attack by the military, as they have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State. However, a local civil society member and a nearby village resident blamed the ADF for Sunday’s attack.
As per Sadame Patanguli, the resident, the ADF arrived at the village and plundered a hospital of its medicines before setting it on fire, followed by a hotel. He also stated that the militants had kidnapped several people who are now missing. Two regional officials verified the death toll and the burned structures.
Despite the military’s efforts, the killings continue in the region, Additionally, the army is also engaged in combat with the M23 rebel group, whose offensive has displaced around 600,000 individuals in recent months. Congo alleges that the group is being supported by Rwanda, which Rwanda has denied.