13 Civilians Killed, Village Torched in ADF Attack in Eastern DRC

At least 13 civilians died in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo during a new attack carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Mambasa territory, Ituri province, in the country’s northeast.

The assault took place overnight from Friday, August 7, to Saturday, August 8, according to the human rights organization Protection Plus. The group stated the operation targeted residents of the village of Banana Ikole in the Babila Baboumbi area.

Civil society sources reported that several civilians were abducted during the attack — which occurred just 48 hours after the discovery of 10 civilian bodies inside a church in the same region.

Escalating Civilian Toll in 72 Hours

Thirty-two civilians were killed across eastern DRC within a 72-hour period due to armed attacks.

Human rights organizations and local residents expressed anger over the intensifying ADF assaults, despite the presence of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Call for Immediate Intervention

John Fulivirio Musombula of Protection Plus said Congolese authorities and their international partners are obligated to act urgently to halt the recurring killings in the area.

He noted that local populations cannot comprehend why casualties continue to mount, abductions persist, and villages are set on fire — even as MONUSCO peacekeeping forces remain deployed in the region. He added that the security situation in eastern DRC is deteriorating further amid increased armed group activity.

Eighteen civilians were killed in another attack in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.