The Executive of the Democratic Republic of Congo has condemned "in the strongest terms" the recent "massacre of civilians" recorded in the east of the country and attributed to alleged combatants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed militia associated with the jihadist group Islamic State.
As detailed by the Congolese Ministry of Communication, at least 15 civilians and one member of the Army lost their lives in an attack perpetrated on Sunday against the city of Beni, in the North Kivu province. The department added that numerous homes were damaged during "this criminal incursion."
"The Government extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expresses its profound compassion for the injured and the entire population of Beni, hard hit by this new tragedy," the Executive stated in a statement released on social media.
In the same text, the authorities reiterated that "the fight against the ADF is an absolute priority" and assured that security forces "continue search operations for the assailants." Likewise, they indicated that "measures have been put in place to strengthen the protection of civilian populations, ensure the security of the affected areas, and prevent new attacks."
The Government has also issued a call "for calm, vigilance, and trust in institutions," while emphasizing that it "will tirelessly continue the fight against terrorism" with the aim of "durably restoring security in the affected territories and ensuring the protection of citizens." "Those responsible for atrocious crimes will be sought and will answer for their actions before Justice," it concluded.
The statement was made public after local sources cited by the Congolese portal Actualité reported a death toll of 21 in the attacks attributed to the ADF against Beni and the neighboring towns of Vemba and Masulungwede, without any group having formally claimed responsibility to date.
The ADF was formed in the 1990s in Uganda and maintains a strong presence in the east of the DRC, where they are held responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians. In 2019, the group fractured after its leader swore allegiance to the Islamic State in Central Africa (ISCA), the regional branch of the terrorist group, under whose banner it has operated since then.