A recent assault in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, attributed to militants affiliated with the Daesh group, has resulted in multiple casualties, with reports suggesting the death of at least five individuals within a church, according to local sources on Wednesday.
The rebel incursion occurred late Tuesday in Baeti, situated near the town of Oicha in the Beni territory. Nicolas Kikuku, the mayor of Oicha, informed AFP that “eight bodies of civilians killed by ADF have been taken to the morgue” at Oicha hospital.
Among the victims were five Christians who lost their lives “in full worship” in Baeti.
Baeti is located in the North-Kivu province, near the border with Ituri province.
Both provinces were placed under a “state of siege” in 2021, a measure that involves replacing civilian administrators with members of the police and military to combat armed groups.
Darius Syahira, a local civil society official, confirmed the attack and acknowledged the presence of “bodies” at the morgue without specifying an exact figure.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), initially a rebel coalition established itself in eastern DRC in 1995 and has since become one of the deadliest militias in the conflict-ridden region.
In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to Daesh organization.
Notably, in December, the ADF was accused of two attacks in western Uganda, resulting in the deaths of 13 villagers.
In the DRC, following a period of relative calm, attacks attributed to the ADF resumed towards the end of January in the Beni territory, leading to the killing of five civilians.
