Masala, Democratic Republic of Congo – The death toll from a brutal attack by militants and Islamist rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to at least 41, the government reported on Monday.
Red Cross volunteers and local youths have been tirelessly searching for bodies since the attack occurred on Friday in the eastern North Kivu province. The villages of Masala, Keme, and Mahini were targeted in the violent assault.
Armed men wielding guns and machetes unleashed terror on the residents, causing widespread panic and chaos. Maurice Kambale Mulehera, a resident of Masala, recounted the horrors faced by fleeing villagers. “We learned that our fleeing family members were killed along the way. Here we have two bodies, a girl and a boy. Look how they were killed,” he said.
See Also: Suspected Islamists Kill At Least 18 In East Congo Attack
While the North Kivu region has experienced significant violence from M23 rebels in recent months, the Congolese army has identified the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) as the perpetrators of these latest attacks. The ADF, a militant group with a three-decade presence in the DRC, has been conducting regular assaults in North Kivu and Ituri provinces against both the Congolese army and civilians. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The village of Masala remains in shock after the ADF militants’ deadly rampage, which left a trail of devastation, with lives lost and homes destroyed. Local civil society members report that over 80 people have been killed in a series of assaults in the area since last Tuesday. They have urgently called for increased protection from the government.
The eastern part of the DRC has been mired in violence for nearly 30 years, with more than 100 armed groups fighting for power, land, and valuable mineral resources. The relentless conflict has displaced over seven million people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Source: Africa News