At least 21 people were killed in a series of attacks carried out by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels over Christmas week in the conflict-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The assaults targeted villages near Manguredjipa, a mineral-rich town in North Kivu province, where the ADF has a long history of violent activities.
The attacks began on December 21, when the rebels entered the village of Robinet in the Bapere sector, killing six people. The following day, they struck Kodjo, a neighboring village, leaving 12 people dead. On Christmas Day, the ADF attacked Makele, a village just seven kilometers from Manguredjipa, where three more people were killed.
Macaire Sivikunula, a representative of the Bapere sector’s governor, confirmed the incidents to AFP, noting the scattered nature of the ADF forces as a challenge for military operations. Other local sources corroborated the dates, locations, and death tolls.
The ADF, originally from Uganda, has operated in the DRC’s northeast since the mid-1990s. Over the years, they have killed thousands of civilians in one of the region’s most persistent and violent insurgencies. In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), which now refers to them as its Central Africa Province and claims responsibility for some of their attacks.
In late 2021, Uganda and the DRC launched a joint military operation called “Shujaa” to neutralize the ADF. However, the offensive has struggled to achieve its objectives, as the rebels have retreated into remote and rugged terrain, making it difficult for military forces to locate and target them.
Despite the presence of Ugandan and Congolese forces in Manguredjipa, Sivikunula emphasized that the rebels’ strategy of dispersing into small groups has complicated efforts to end their activities.
North Kivu province also faces another insurgency in its southern regions, involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Fighting between the M23 and the Congolese army intensified after a peace summit in mid-December failed to yield results.
The eastern DRC, rich in valuable minerals, has endured decades of violence fueled by competing armed groups vying for control of resources and territory. The recent attacks highlight the ongoing security challenges and the toll on local civilians caught in the crossfire of these protracted conflicts.
The violence during Christmas week underscores the urgent need for effective regional and international efforts to stabilize eastern DRC and protect its vulnerable populations.
