At least 66 people were killed in a violent attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to local officials. The attack was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group with ties to the Islamic State (IS).
The incident happened in the Irumu area of Ituri province, near the border with Uganda. Fighters from the ADF targeted civilians, and most of the victims were killed using machetes. Local sources say the dead include women, and several people were also taken hostage, though the exact number is still unknown.
The spokesperson for the United Nations mission in the area, Jean Tobie Okala, described the scene as a “bloodbath.” He said that the attack took place between Thursday and Friday, July 11, in the Walese Vonkutu area of Irumu. The death toll has since risen from 31 to 66.
The ADF is a Ugandan extremist group that operates in both Uganda and Congo. Authorities believe this attack may be revenge for recent bombing raids carried out by joint forces from Congo and Uganda, which started earlier this week.
In recent years, the ADF has been blamed for many brutal attacks in the region. They have reportedly killed hundreds of people and kidnapped many others, including children. Their attacks have also spread toward the city of Goma and deeper into the Ituri province.
This recent tragedy comes at a time when hopes were rising for peace in eastern Congo, as talks continue to end the conflict with another rebel group, the M23, which is supported by Rwanda.
