Militants linked to the Islamic State killed at least 13 people in a village in eastern Congo near the Ugandan border, local civil society leaders said.
The attack took place early Saturday in Banana École, a community on the outskirts of Mambasa, the administrative center of Mambasa territory.
Marie Noelle Anotane, head of the New Civil Society of Congo in Mambasa, and local resident Sylvain Andali told The Associated Press that the Allied Democratic Forces, known as the ADF, carried out the assault.
The attackers burned and looted homes during the raid, according to the local civil society group.
Anotane said the death toll was preliminary because many residents had not responded to calls and searches were continuing in nearby communities.
“This death toll of 13 civilians is only provisional because most residents aren’t responding to calls, and searches are continuing in other surrounding villages,” Anotane said.
The violence also prompted residents to flee the area. Some faced a difficult choice between remaining in Mambasa or traveling through parts of the province where an Ebola outbreak has been spreading.
Andali said he left Mambasa for Bunia because he feared further attacks.
“I decided to leave Mambasa for Bunia because I fear repeated attacks by the ADF,” Andali said. “Many of my neighbors have already died, and I must protect my life and the lives of my family.”
The ADF has operated for years along the Congo Uganda border. The group has roots in Uganda and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019.
It is among numerous armed groups operating in eastern Congo, where civilians have repeatedly been targeted by rebel and militant organizations.
The ADF was blamed for the deaths of 66 people in eastern Congo in July 2025. The United Nations described that assault as a “bloodbath,” according to The Associated Press.
The latest attack adds to the insecurity facing communities in eastern Congo, where residents continue to face violence despite efforts by authorities and international organizations to improve security.
Congo is also confronting a separate conflict involving the M23 rebel group, which has seized major cities and territory in the country’s east. The conflict has contributed to a broader humanitarian crisis involving displacement and insecurity.
The scale of the violence has made movement increasingly dangerous for residents seeking safety. For communities around Mambasa, the latest killings could deepen fears of further attacks and trigger additional displacement.
Authorities and local community leaders are expected to continue searching surrounding areas for victims and assessing the damage caused by the assault.
The final death toll could rise if additional victims are found in nearby communities, Anotane said.
Source: The Associated Press
