A Peaceful Village In DRC Shattered As Militants Kill 16, And Abduct 20; Grief And Fear Consume The Community

At least 16 villagers have been killed and 20 others abducted in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a recent spate of attacks by militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), according to a local civil society group.

The assailants launched a series of brutal attacks between Wednesday and Friday in Ituri province’s Mambasa territory, targeting locals, including those working in their farmlands.

John Vulverio, the coordinator of the New Civil Society of Congo, reported that the death toll remains provisional, with the fate of the 20 kidnapped individuals still unknown.

Among those abducted were the mother and sister of Gilbert Sivamwenda, a local government official, as reported by local media. This personal connection to the violence highlights the widespread impact of the attacks on the community.

The ADF, known for its extremist ideologies, has been escalating its attacks in the region and even crossing borders into neighboring Uganda, where the group was originally formed. This growing violence has contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with over seven million people displaced, many beyond the reach of vital aid.

The situation in DRC is further complicated by the recent decision of the Kinshasa government to ask the 15,000-member UN peacekeeping mission to withdraw by the end of 2024.

The mission, which has been engaged in the fight against rebels for more than two decades, was deemed ineffective in ending the conflict. As the withdrawal deadline approaches, the already dire conditions are expected to worsen, leaving the region in a precarious state as it struggles with ongoing violence and displacement.