The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed a dangerous escalation in violence, with at least 15 people, including two soldiers, killed in a violent attack by elements of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with the ISIS terrorist organization. This incident further exacerbates the suffering of a region plagued by decades of insecurity.
Details of the simultaneous attack
Congolese military and government sources reported that the attack was a simultaneous and surprise assault targeting three villages—Katanga, Maindelo, and Kilong—located in the Lubero area of North Kivu province. According to field reports, the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately and directly on unarmed civilians, resulting in casualties and widespread panic among the residents.
The attackers did not stop at killing, but also destroyed property, burning 13 houses to the ground, causing families to be displaced and increasing human suffering in those remote villages.
Military response and pursuit
Following the attack, the army spokesperson in the region stated that units of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in cooperation with the Ugandan army, had launched extensive search operations to pursue the perpetrators. These actions are part of joint operations aimed at eliminating rebel strongholds in the dense forests where they have taken refuge.
Historical background: Allied Democratic Forces
To understand the context of this attack, it's important to note that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is originally a Ugandan rebel group that has been based in eastern Congo since the 1990s. The group's threat increased significantly after it pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2019, adopting more brutal tactics against civilians.
North Kivu and Ituri provinces are among the most affected areas, where dozens of armed groups compete for control of the region’s rich land and natural resources, such as gold and coltan, making the conflict complex and intertwined with ethnic, economic and political dimensions.
Regional and international impact
This escalation has worrying implications for the region, as continued violence threatens to increase waves of displacement and refugees towards neighboring countries, placing additional pressure on stability in the Great Lakes region. This attack also highlights the enormous challenges faced by peacekeeping missions and national armies in securing vast areas with rugged terrain.
Despite the joint military efforts between Kinshasa and Kampala (Operation Brave), the rebels' ability to launch sporadic bloody attacks indicates that the road to restoring full security in eastern Congo remains long and fraught with danger, requiring concerted international efforts to support political and developmental solutions alongside security solutions.
