Ituri : 25 civilians killed in ADF attack in Irumu

SOS Médias Burundi

Irumu, January 26, 2026 – Militiamen from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) again attacked the village of Apakolu, in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom of Irumu territory in Ituri province, eastern Congo, early Sunday morning, leaving 22 dead according to a still provisional toll.

This attack comes on top of the one that occurred the previous day, Saturday, January 24, in the villages of Ahombo and Mangwalo, perpetrated by the same militia, according to information gathered by the Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), Irumu branch.

A targeted massacre

According to Christophe Munyanderu, a member of the CRDH (Coordination of Human Rights), among the victims in Apakolu were 15 men killed while locked inside a house, and 7 others executed along the road.

“The enemy attacked the population in Apakolu, taking civilians hostage and killing some with machetes when they tried to defend themselves. The military authorities must intervene quickly,” said Munyanderu, calling for large-scale joint operations between the Congolese and Ugandan armies to neutralize the ADF militia.

He also recommended the establishment of military positions along the Ituri River to secure the population and allow for the recovery of the bodies of some of the victims still left behind.

A recurring threat in the region

Since the start of the state of siege declared by President Félix Tshisekedi in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in May 2021, several people, mostly civilians, have been killed, taken hostage, and some remain missing.

The ADF, an armed group of Ugandan origin that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), continues to sow terror in Ituri and North Kivu, despite these military operations. These repeated attacks systematically target civilians and create a climate of constant fear in the region.

The ADF is on the list of terrorist organizations established by the United States.