Already this month, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—an armed group allied with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)—have killed at least 52 civilians [link in French] in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, recorded this tragic toll. This unprecedented level of violence has shocked the world as the group has waged its horrific campaign against local civilians.
Recent reports have shown how the ADF, which pledged allegiance to ISIL, has stepped up attacks starting last month. In an abominable attack in north-eastern Komanda city, Ituri province, the group invaded a Catholic worship during a vigil. They began shooting the worshipers, specifically aiming at women and children. This assault resulted in nearly 40 deaths. The ADF has been especially active in the DRC since 2002. They were forcefully displaced into the region after scorched earth military offensives by Ugandan troops.
According to Macaire Sivikunula, chief of Lubero’s Bapere sector, the ADF uses particularly vicious methods. They bind their victims hands behind their back before shooting them. He described a harrowing scene:
“When they arrived, they first woke the residents, gathered them in one place, tied them up with ropes, and then began to massacre them with machetes and hoes.” – Macaire Sivikunula
That violence became even more pronounced over the weekend. Last week, ADF militants reportedly launched an overnight attack on the town of Oicha in North Kivu, killing at least nine people. Recent attacks on civilians are retaliatory in nature. The ADF has specifically been on the retreat recently, suffering notable battlefield defeats to Congolese forces.
The ADF isn’t done committing violence in the region. At the same time, tensions are escalating between the Congolese army and Rwandan-led M23 rebel forces. Both sides have blamed the other for breaking a newly brokered ceasefire deal to help stabilize the volatile eastern DRC. The rivalry between these groups adds to the security environment and makes it difficult for all actors to focus their efforts in countering the ADF threat specifically.
A joint military operation named “Shujaa,” initiated by the governments of Uganda and the DRC at the end of 2021, has so far failed to curb ADF’s violent activities. Meant to take out the ADF’s infrastructure, the operation so far has not produced strong results.
The human rights situation in eastern DRC is as dire as it has ever been fueled by the ongoing armed conflicts. The DRC government negotiators and M23 were expected to sign a permanent peace agreement by August 18. Continued violence on the part of militants has repeatedly damaged their progress.
