t least 20 civilians were killed in an attack attributed to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials reported on Thursday.
The victims were farmers working in their fields in a village approximately 30 kilometers from Oicha, the capital of Beni territory.
Nicolas Kikuku, mayor of Oicha, described the attack as a tragic targeting of innocent civilians. “The enemy always attacks the poor farmers,” he said.
Local civil society representative Darius Syaira echoed the mayor’s concerns, calling for increased military presence to combat the ADF’s persistent violence.
The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group with ties to the Islamic State, has operated in eastern DR Congo for decades, causing widespread suffering and instability.
Despite joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces launched in late 2021, the group continues to carry out deadly attacks on civilians.
The latest massacre underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, where communities are caught in a cycle of violence and fear.
