In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The death toll in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 41 after suspected Islamist rebels attacked villages, with over 80 casualties reported since Tuesday.
- The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), linked to the Islamic State, carried out the attacks, using guns and machetes to target residents. The EU emphasizes the need for urgent political solutions to address the region’s instability.
The death toll in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 41 following an attack on Friday by suspected Islamist rebels, according to a Congolese army spokesman.
This incident adds to the total toll in the region, surpassing 80 since Tuesday. Lieutenant-colonel Mak Hazukay, an army spokesman in Congo’s North Kivu province, attributed Friday night’s attack on the villages of Masala, Mapasana, and Mahini to members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and is now based in eastern Congo, is known for frequent attacks, further destabilizing an area already plagued by numerous militant groups.
Originating from Uganda, the ADF is suspected of multiple assaults in the region over the past week, including an attack in the village of Masawu that claimed 17 lives, according to civil society leaders.
Additional casualties were discovered in other villages, with bodies found in Kabweli, Mamulese, and Mununze on Thursday.
Read Also:
Jahmby Koikai’s Father Discusses Her Illness & Why She’ll be Buried at Lang’ata Cemetery
Abel Mutua Faces Backlash for Staging a Kiss With Sarah Hassan
Fans Urge Bahati to Protect Diana’s Reputation After Controversial Wanyama Photo
Actress Star Chebet Assures Fans She’s Fine Hours After Making Disturbing Revelations Online
On Friday, 13 more bodies were recovered in the village of Makobu, bringing the total number of deaths attributed to suspected ADF militants since Tuesday to 82. Efforts to reach the ADF for comment were unsuccessful.
The attacks on Friday evening involved armed men using guns and machetes to target residents of the villages in Beni territory, as reported by local official Fabien Kakule and corroborated by Vusindi Nick Junior, a local civil society leader.
In addition to the 41 fatalities, nine people were injured, and a local health center was set ablaze during the violence.
European Union foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali emphasized the urgent need to accelerate efforts to find a political solution, noting the exploitation of chaos by terrorist groups to expand their influence in an already unstable region.
Julien Paluku, a former governor of North Kivu, urged the Congolese national government to take stronger action to address insecurity in the east.
However, the government has not issued a statement regarding Friday’s attacks, and requests for comment from a government spokesman went unanswered.
Paluku expressed the sentiment of many in the region, highlighting a perception of being abandoned to their fate amidst ongoing violence and insecurity.