BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Gunmen from the Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked to the Islamic State, killed at least 44 civilians in raids on villages in Congo’s Ituri province this week, humanitarian and security sources said Friday, Nov. 13, Africanews reported.[1]
Related: Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Passes 11,000 Cases.
What happened
The latest raids hit villages in Mambasa territory, where the Ebola outbreak was first detected six months ago. Some victims were killed with machetes and others were shot, local official Gabriel Tonge said. A humanitarian source said the fighters remain in the bush and have set ambushes.[1]
The attacks came days after the ADF killed 66 people in neighboring North Kivu. Three health workers were among those dead, and several medical facilities were burned.[1]
The Ebola connection
Ituri is a hotspot in Congo’s Ebola outbreak, which has become the country’s worst and has killed more than 5,400 people since it was declared in May.[1] World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the region’s chronic instability is one of the greatest obstacles to the Ebola response.[1]
Armed groups, including the ADF, have attacked health workers fighting the virus. Our earlier report covers the outbreak passing 11,000 cases, and the death toll and fatality rate.
Who the ADF are
The ADF was formed by former Ugandan rebels and has carried out repeated massacres in North Kivu and Ituri. Both Uganda’s and Congo’s armies have sent troops against the group, so far without significant success.[1] Eastern Congo has been torn by violence from many armed groups for more than 30 years.[1]
Follow the region on our Global Conflict Tracker and in Africa news.
Sources
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