At least 21 people were killed in an attack attributed to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official confirmed on Monday. The assault occurred on Friday in Lubero territory, targeting the Bapakombe grouping in North Kivu province.
Local authorities said the death toll rose from 14 after additional bodies were recovered on Sunday. Three villages — Boti, Isigo and Mambimbi — were hit in what officials described as simultaneous attacks, during which homes were set ablaze and several residents went missing.
The violence has triggered fresh displacement, with civilians fleeing to perceived safer areas, including Kambau town, paralysing daily life and disrupting education, trade and other economic activities.
According to the United Nations, 2025 saw Congo grappling with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis driven by armed conflict, mass displacement, climate shocks and recurring epidemics. Civil society groups report that more than 60 civilians have been killed in the Beni and Lubero areas since the start of 2026, underscoring the region’s chronic insecurity.
Since 2021, Ugandan and Congolese forces have conducted joint military operations against the ADF, which has operated in eastern Congo for years and pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2019.