At least 52 civilians have been massacred by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Beni and Lubero areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), UN and local officials revealed on Monday, August 18.
The attacks, which took place between 9 and 16 August, saw rebels armed with machetes and hoes raid villages, tie up residents, and kill them in groups. Local authorities confirmed that women and children were among the victims, with around 30 people killed in the village of Melia alone. Several homes were also torched during the assaults, which the army said were acts of revenge following recent defeats inflicted on the group by Congolese forces.
The United Nations mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) condemned the killings “in the strongest possible terms,” warning that the toll may rise as searches continue. The ADF, one of several militias vying for control of land and resources in the mineral-rich east, has stepped up its attacks despite joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces. The massacre follows a deadly assault in late July, when ADF fighters killed 38 worshippers in a church attack.