Several Killed In Multiple ADF Attacks In Eastern DR Congo

A yet to be confirmed number of civilians have been killed in multiple attacks by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in various parts of the eastern DR Congo.

On Thursday, Dec. 16, a woman was killed by bullet, and a vehicle burnt down in an ADF attack on the village of Kidungo, situated two kilometres from the Bulongo council in North Kivu.

According to civil society sources in Ruwenzori, the assailants ambushed the vehicle that was coming from the border area of Kasindi on its way to Oicha.

“The driver of the vehicle and his assistant succeeded in fleeing but a villager who was returning from his farm was killed by a stray bullet,” revealed Ricardo Rupande, president of the Ruwenzori sector civil society.

“The incident took place at 11 a.m. local time while the “ADF rebels were moving down south towards Ruwenzori.”

Local sources say the village of Kidungu has always been used as a fall-back base by ADF rebels whenever they are in the zone.

The Kidungu attack was the second by ADF in the region on Thursday.

 Four civilians onboard a vehicle were also killed and their vehicle burnt down between the villages of Lukaya and Makumo on the Mangina-Mambasa highway in the neighbouring province of Ituri.

Javier Musoki, chief of the Mambembe-Bela tribal group revealed that the vehicle, a 1924 truck, was carrying goods manufactured in Biakato and Mambasa when it was attacked at around 10 a.m.

“The victims were all men including the owner of the vehicle, his driver, their assistant and a passenger. After the attack, the assailants headed towards Mahu where gunshots were heard late Thursday evening,”  Musoki said.

The attacks on Thursday come three days after a double attack by ADF rebels which resulted in the death of eight persons including an ADF fighter on Monday morning in Bela and Ngwaba, eight kilometres to the south near Mangina.