Islamic State-linked rebels have killed at least 52 civilians with machetes and hoes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out the attacks in Beni and Lubero territories after suffering defeats by Congolese forces, according to Lieutenant Elongo Kyondwa Marx, a regional army spokesperson.
“When they arrived, they first woke the residents, gathered them in one place, tied them up with ropes, and then began to massacre them with machetes and hoes,” said Macaire Sivikunula, chief of Lubero’s Bapere sector.
Alain Kiwewe, military administrator for Lubero, said about 30 people were killed in the village of Melia alone. “Among the victims were children and women whose throats were slit in their homes, while several houses were set on fire,” he told Reuters.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) condemned the killings “in the strongest possible terms,” saying at least 52 people – including eight women and two children – died in ADF attacks between August 9 and 16. The toll could rise as searches continue, its spokesperson said.
– Advertisement –
The ADF, one of several armed groups competing for land and resources in Congo’s mineral-rich east, has faced intensified military pressure from joint Congolese and Ugandan operations. In late July, ADF rebels killed 38 people in an attack on a church in eastern Congo.
Meanwhile, peace efforts with another rebel faction, the M23, have faltered. The Congolese government and M23 rebels missed Monday’s deadline to reach a deal in Doha, heightening fears that tensions could derail talks and reverse recent progress.
Fighting in eastern Congo has escalated this year, with the M23 capturing the region’s two largest cities during its latest offensive.
The AFC-M23 Movement said in a statement on Sunday that the next round of talks could only proceed if the declaration of principles — including the release of prisoners — is fully implemented.
A senior AFC source told reporters on Monday that while the rebels did not expect major breakthroughs, they would dispatch a small delegation in the coming days under pressure from Qatari mediators.
“Our delegation will simply reinforce the need to implement these measures before we can engage in negotiations,” the source said.
According to a government source, authorities have received a draft agreement from the mediation team, and both sides are reviewing it before their delegates return to Doha later this week.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
