At least 40 civilians have been killed within a week by rebels of the ADF-Nalu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an armed group of Ugandan origin that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. This group has been terrorizing the “Grand Nord” area of North Kivu province for over a decade. Recently, these fighters have escalated their attacks on villages surrounding the city of Beni.
According to the Congolese army, the rebels, now in disarray, are operating in smaller groups and moving further north. Just yesterday (Monday), they attacked another village, resulting in five deaths, explained Kinos Katuho, president of the Batangi Mbau civil society group, in an interview with Alexandra Brangeon from the Africa desk.
“For at least a week, the ADF-Nalu has been attacking several nearby localities… The enemy moves from village to village without facing resistance. They are not targeting the army but are instead attacking civilians, who are suffering immensely due to these assaults… Fourteen years is too long! We call on our government to take responsibility and urge both the Congolese and Ugandan military, who are currently in a coalition, to find a way to stop these attacks in our communities,” Katuho implored.
The ongoing violence has severely impacted the civilian population in North Kivu, causing significant distress and displacement. The plea from local leaders like Katuho underscores the urgent need for effective military and governmental intervention to protect civilians and restore peace in the region.
In summary, the recent spate of attacks by the ADF-Nalu in the Beni region highlights the persistent security challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the violence continues unabated, the call for decisive action from both national and international forces becomes increasingly critical to ensuring the safety and well-being of affected communities.