North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo – At least 61 civilians were killed in a brutal attack on a funeral ceremony in eastern Congo, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, in one of the deadliest assaults in recent months by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels linked to the Islamic State.
The massacre occurred on Monday evening in Ntoyo village, located in the Lubero territory of North Kivu, when militants armed with machetes and firearms stormed the gathering around 9 p.m. Local administrator Macaire Sivikunula said most victims were hacked to death, with others shot, as the assailants targeted mourners attending the funeral.
The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant activity, reported that the ADF, also known as the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming nearly 100 Christian lives. SITE also noted that approximately 30 houses were set ablaze during the assault.
Authorities later confirmed that a separate suspected ADF attack on another village killed 18 people, reflecting the ongoing surge of violence in the region.
“The victims were caught off guard at a mourning ceremony, and the assailants showed no mercy,” Sivikunula said. Residents reported widespread panic as Congolese soldiers arrived on the scene Tuesday morning, with many villagers fleeing the area. Samuel Kagheni, a local civil society leader, added that vehicles were also torched during the assault.
Colonel Alain Kiwewa, military administrator for Lubero, warned that the death toll could rise, as several people remained missing.
The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group, has operated in the forests of eastern Congo since the late 1990s and has been recognised by Islamic State as an affiliate. Recent months have seen a surge in attacks attributed to the group: last month alone, the ADF killed over 50 civilians in multiple incidents, and a July assault on a church left 38 dead.
Eastern Congo, a mineral-rich region, has been destabilised further by the presence of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, who staged a significant advance earlier this year. Both the Congolese and Ugandan militaries say they have intensified operations against the ADF in recent weeks, but the group continues to carry out devastating attacks.
Lieutenant Marc Elongo, army spokesperson, said soldiers arrived too late to prevent the massacre. “By the time our forces intervened, the ADF militants had already committed the atrocity,” he said.
The attack highlights the ongoing security crisis in eastern Congo, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of militant violence amid limited state protection.
Source – My News Ghana
