Ituri (DRC): four civilians killed in a latest ADF attack in Irumu

Gunmen identified as ADF militiamen (Allied Democratic Forces) conducted an attack this Tuesday, early in the evening on the village of Kyabaganze. It is in the Bahema-Baga chiefdom in the Southern Irumu territory, Ituri province (eastern DRC). The toll put forward by local civil society is four civilians killed and a 10-year-old girl kidnapped. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The attack took place around 6 p.m., according to local sources.

“Assailants surprised the peaceful residents in the evening around 6 p.m. Everyone tried to flee, but the terrorists were already in the village. They killed four people and kidnapped a 10-year-old girl. It’s regrettable!”, says David Balikya, president of local civil society in Irumu.

Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of the CRDH (Convention for the Respect of Human Rights) in Irumu strongly condemns “an attack against peaceful citizens”.

He asks Congolese security forces to intensify tracking operations against the ADF group.

The attack comes when the locality had been calm for some time and residents were hoping to finally be able to live in peace.

This Monday, the Congolese and Ugandan armed chiefs of staff met in Beni for a meeting to evaluate joint operations against the ADF group. These operations began in November 2021.

The ADF is an armed group of Ugandan origin. In 2021, the United States placed the ADF on its list of “foreign terrorist organizations”, linked to the Islamic State group. Since the same year, a joint Congolese-Ugandan military operation began, targeting the ADF in Congolese territory. But the attacks continued.