Over 300 civilians killed by ADF rebels in DRC this year

The United Nations has released a statement confirming that over 300 civilians have been killed by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since the beginning of the year. These tragic losses occurred primarily in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces, with a recent assault on the village of Ngadi, near Beni in North Kivu, drawing particular condemnation.

Local authorities reported that the Ngadi attack, which took place over the night of May 30 to 31, resulted in the deaths of 15 civilians and one soldier. The brutal nature of these raids has left communities in the Beni region on high alert, as the ADF has intensified its violent campaign in the area.

In just three days, the rebel group carried out multiple attacks in the Beni region, claiming the lives of more than 40 civilians. These assaults follow a disturbing pattern of violence that has plagued the eastern DRC for decades, with the ADF operating in the region since the mid-1990s.

The ADF’s brutal tactics have escalated since 2019, when the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), which now refers to the ADF as its “Central Africa Province.” The IS has claimed responsibility for several of the group’s most heinous attacks, further complicating efforts to restore peace in the region.