IS-linked group kills at least 13 in Congo village
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Militants affiliated with the Islamic State group attacked a village in Congo near the border with Uganda early Saturday, killing at least 13 people and burning and looting homes, a local civil society group said. The attacks occurred in the village of Banana École, a suburb of the territorial capital of Mambasa. Marie-Noelle Anotane, the head of the…
Militants linked to the Islamic State group carried out a violent attack on a village near the Congo-Uganda border, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people. The assault targeted the village of Banana École, a suburb of Mambasa, the territorial capital. Local civil society groups reported that the attack was executed using the tactics typical of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group with ties to Uganda and the Islamic State.
The ADF, which has a history of targeting civilians in the region, has been operating in Congo for some time. The villagers faced a difficult decision, having to choose between staying in the village or fleeing to other parts of the province due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the deadliest ever recorded. One resident, Sylvain Andali, opted to leave Mambasa for Bunia, citing the constant threat of ADF attacks and the loss of his neighbors.
The ADF, known for its brutal tactics, has been responsible for numerous atrocities in eastern Congo, including a major "bloodbath" in July 2025 that left 66 people dead. The country also faces attacks from around 100 other rebel groups, with the M23, backed by Rwanda, being a significant threat in the eastern region.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
