Suspected ADF Attack Kills at Least 21 in Ituri Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

At least 21 people have been killed in an attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces fighters in Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The attack hit the village of Biakato, where homes were burned, civilians were abducted, and property destroyed. Authorities say the death toll rose after more bodies were recovered, while the army has launched a manhunt for the attackers. The ADF, linked to Daesh, has been responsible for years of violence in eastern Congo despite ongoing military operations.

At least 21 people have been killed in a brutal attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces fighters in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of the Congo, authorities confirmed on Sunday, highlighting the continuing insecurity in the country’s conflict-hit east.
The attack took place in the village of Biakato in the Mambasa territory of Ituri Province, an area that has repeatedly suffered deadly assaults by armed groups over the years. Officials said the death toll increased from 15 to 21 after additional bodies were discovered during ongoing search operations.
According to the assistant administrator of the territory, Col. Maxime Tshishimbi, the attackers also left several people missing, raising fears that the final toll could be higher. He added that the assailants not only killed civilians but also caused widespread destruction in the community.
Eyewitness accounts and local authorities reported that the attackers set fire to homes and motorcycles, destroying property as they moved through the village. Several civilians were also abducted while returning from their farms, further deepening fear and displacement in the area.
The Congolese army has since launched a manhunt for the attackers, with military operations underway in surrounding forests and suspected hideouts. Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security forces by providing any useful information that could help locate the armed group.
The ADF rebel group, which has been active in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for several years, is widely linked to the broader extremist network of Daesh. The group has been accused of carrying out repeated massacres, kidnappings, and village raids, particularly in remote rural areas.
Eastern Congo has faced persistent violence for nearly three decades, with multiple armed groups operating across the region. The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri have been the most affected, with thousands of civilians displaced and forced to live in overcrowded camps due to ongoing insecurity.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have raised alarm over escalating abuses in the region. In a recent report, the group said civilians in eastern Congo are experiencing a surge in violations that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing killings, abductions, and torture carried out by armed groups such as the ADF.
While international attention has often focused on other rebel movements like the M23 group, Amnesty International warned that ADF-related violence continues to devastate communities across large parts of eastern Congo, largely away from global scrutiny.
Since 2021, joint military operations by Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo have been targeting ADF strongholds in an effort to dismantle the group. However, despite these efforts, attacks on civilians continue, underscoring the difficulty of restoring lasting peace and security in the region.