Islamic State-linked militants kill 21 in DR Congo
The death toll from an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist militant group that originated in Uganda, has risen to 21 in the town of Mbau, located in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The increase in casualties follows the discovery of additional bodies on the outskirts of the town in the aftermath of the assault, a local news agency reported on Thursday.
Mbau came under a deadly attack overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. According to preliminary accounts collected by local outlet Actualite from survivors, ADF fighters operated in three separate groups during the raid.
The militants reportedly targeted the neighborhoods of Matete, Kithoho, and Mamuli, where they also set fire to homes and motorcycles.
“We want to see the army pursue the attackers to their last stronghold, because we will be exterminated if nothing is done,” Louis Kisaki, head of the Batangi-Mbau civil society organization, told the news agency.
According to the publication, ADF militants have killed more than 40 people in attacks across the town of Mbau and the wider territory of Beni over the past three days. Several civilians were also abducted during the assaults and remain in captivity.
The latest violence comes as the DR Congo continues to face a worsening security crisis. The M23 rebel group remains in control of parts of the country, contributing to ongoing armed clashes and deepening humanitarian challenges.
The DR Congo’s mineral-rich east has been plagued by decades of violence, with dozens of armed groups, including M23, fighting Congolese forces for power and control of resources such as gold and coltan. Clashes escalated in early 2025, killing thousands and forcing large-scale displacement, according to UN agencies. The rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in late January and later captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
Ceasefire efforts have repeatedly faltered, including Qatar-facilitated talks in Doha. Congolese authorities have long accused Rwanda of supporting the militants, allegations backed by a UN panel of experts. Kigali has denied the claims. The accusations have strained Rwanda’s relations with Western partners, including Belgium. In March, Kigali severed diplomatic ties with Brussels, accusing it of harboring “neo-colonial delusions” and interfering in the conflict.
In December, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, ratified a US-brokered agreement committing Kigali to withdraw its forces from the border and end alleged support for M23, while Kinshasa pledged to curb militias hostile to Rwanda. US President Donald Trump has said the pact, which includes calls for a joint security mechanism, gives Washington rights to local mineral wealth. The fighting has continued despite Trump’s claims that he ended the decades-long conflict.
The security situation in the DR Congo is further complicated by a growing public health emergency. During its latest briefing, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that 1,077 suspected Ebola cases and 246 probable deaths had been recorded since May 15, when the country officially declared its 17th Ebola outbreak.
