The jihadist group presents the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Muslim rebels of Ugandan origin, such as its branch in Central Africa.
Mo12345lemonde with AFP
At least 23 villagers, according to local sources, were killed on the night of Sunday January 22 to Monday, January 23 in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces ( ADF) and claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. The jihadist group, which presents the ADFs as its branch in Central Africa, published on Telegram a press release indicating that IS members had attacked the village of Makugwe, in Beni territory, North Kivu.
“Twenty-four people, including six women, were killed in this ADF incursion”, had previously declared to AFP Roger Wangeve, president of local civil society. An army spokesperson in the region also quantified the balance sheet at 24 dead and 10 missing. Staying in this village, the provincial deputy Saidi Balikwisha mentioned a balance sheet of “23 people killed”. This elected official pleaded for an increase in “military numbers, well equipped, well equipped and well treated”, to hope to be able to “anticipate the attacks of the enemy”.
According to Roger Wangeve, among the victims are 17 people who were “in a small refreshment bar where they took beer”. The ADFs “have executed them all,” he said. At least seven residential houses were burned down, three pharmacies and eleven looted shops, while the number of “civilians taken in the bush is not yet known”, added Wangeve: “We regret and we arise Question: How is it possible to kill the population a few meters from the military camp? “
bomb attack in a church
Questioned by AFP, Colonel Charles Omeonga, administrator of the Beni territory, indicated that the armed forces were “in pursuit of the enemy”, who, according to him, “hidden in the population “.
The ADF, Muslim rebels of Ugandan origin, are active in the North Kivu and the south of the neighboring province of Ituri. They are considered one of the deadliest armed groups in eastern DRC. Their last major action dates back to January 15, when at least 14 people were killed and 63 others injured in a bomb attack in a Pentecostal church. This attack had been claimed by IS.
To try to stop violence, without achieving it so far, North Kivu and Ituri have been placed in May 2021 in “siege” by the Congolese president, Félix Tshisekedi, an exceptional measure which replaced civilian administrators with police and military officials. Since the end of 2021, a Congolese-Ugandan joint military operation has also started to target ADF in Congolese territory. But the attacks continued.