ADF attacks kill at least 879 civilians in DR Congo's Ituri province since January, lawmaker says

Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters have carried out deadly attacks across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province, killing at least 879 civilians since January, a lawmaker said Tuesday, highlighting a worsening humanitarian crisis amid ongoing insecurity. Figures presented to the National Assembly by lawmaker Gratien Iracan showed that 179 civilians were killed between April 18 and May 11, including 70 people killed on April 28 alone.

Call for action

Irracan said the repeated attacks have deepened the humanitarian crisis in the province and called for concrete action from the Congolese government. He also urged parliament to accelerate the establishment of a parliamentary commission of inquiry to investigate the massacres of civilians in Ituri province. According to the lawmaker, the commission would help determine responsibility and identify perpetrators behind killings and other atrocities committed against civilians, particularly women and children.

Growing tragedy

"The silence in the face of this tragedy is becoming unbearable," he said, urging Congolese authorities to act swiftly to protect civilians and restore security in the province. The ADF armed group, which has been active in eastern Congo for several years, is affiliated with the ISIS (Daesh) militant organization.

Military operations

Since 2021, Ugandan and Congolese forces have conducted joint military operations against the group. Last week, Amnesty International said in a report that while the ADF also attacks security forces, civilians have become its primary targets in recent years. The rights group said fighters deliberately target civilians not only to seize food, medicine and supplies, but also in retaliation for military operations.