The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) which is an extremist group connected to Daesh has carried out an attack that resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians. The massacre took place in the volatile Ituri province of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, specifically in the border village of Bafwakoa.

According to local civil society members, the militants arrived in the evening, setting houses on fire and ruthlessly attacking residents.Officials confirmed that at least 30 of the victims were brutally killed with machetes.

The attackers took at least two people hostage during the chaos while several other people remain unaccounted for. The ADF presents itself as an Islamic group which started its operations in Uganda during the 1990s but conducted its first official Daesh link in 2019.

Widespread Instability and Regional Conflicts

The current situation in eastern Congo seeks to establish peace because the region has been experiencing ongoing conflict with M23 rebels. M23 operates as an independent armed group which reports to receive military support from Rwanda, thus contributing to major disturbances that affect the entire area.

The Congolese army faces ongoing difficulties while trying to control various armed groups that operate throughout eastern areas which contain valuable resources. The ADF conducts its operations according to military sources, which state that the group prefers to stay away from direct battles against national defense forces.

The ADF conducted multiple attacks during the previous year, which resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians and the kidnapping of people throughout neighboring regions.