Deadly Attack by Armed Group Claims Lives in Eastern DRC

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Armed assailants brutally killed at least 19 villagers in a raid on Sunday in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), tying them up and using machetes and other weapons, according to reports from civil society leader Maurice Mabele Musaidi. The attackers targeted the Watalinga chiefdom in Beni territory, with the violence allegedly perpetrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group affiliated with ISIL (ISIS).

The ADF, originally formed in Uganda during the 1990s before moving into the eastern DRC, has been responsible for a series of violent incidents spanning both countries, causing thousands of casualties over the past decade. In June, the group carried out a devastating attack on a high school in western Uganda near the DRC border, resulting in the deaths of 42 people, including 37 students, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Uganda in more than ten years.

Maurice Mabele Musaidi reported that in the recent attack, at least 19 villagers were killed, while others fled the violence. Tragically, some villagers attempting to escape might have drowned in the Lamia River while seeking refuge in Uganda. Musaidi expressed concerns about missing individuals, indicating that the toll may rise as more information becomes available.

The DRC army, in collaboration with local forces, responded to the attack, resulting in the killing of at least six of the assailants. However, the precise details of the military operation were not disclosed. Antony Mualushayi, a spokesperson for the DRC army, provided a provisional civilian death toll of 11.

The ADF’s violent activities have sparked widespread condemnation, with neighboring countries grappling with the challenge of tackling this armed group. In November, the Ugandan army claimed a significant victory by capturing the head of an ADF unit known as “Njovu” and eliminating six of his men in a raid.

The DRC government has consistently faced security challenges from various armed groups, and the recent attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by the ADF in the region. Authorities are likely to intensify efforts to address the complex security situation and safeguard the lives of civilians in the eastern part of the country.

Source: Aljazeera and other internet sources.

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