The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has strongly condemned a deadly rebel attack targeting a mining site in Ituri Province in the country’s east.
The assault occurred earlier this month at the Muchacha Mining Site in Mambasa Territory and was attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). According to authorities, the attack killed several people, sparked a fire at the facility, and forced civilians to flee the area.
Local media reports citing civil society groups said at least seven people were killed, dozens abducted, and homes and property looted and burned during the raid.
Congolese officials said the army has since carried out operations against the militants, destroying several ADF strongholds and seizing significant quantities of explosives in the region.
Eastern Congo has long been a hotspot for armed violence. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently warned about the growing humanitarian impact of continued clashes in Ituri.
Humanitarian partners reported that since early March, fighting around Djugu Territory has killed at least 21 people and displaced many families.
Since 2021, the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have conducted joint military operations against the ADF, a group linked to Islamic State militants.
Source: TRT Africa
