Surge of Violence in Eastern Congo: ADF Attacks Leave 89 Dead

Between November 13 and November 19, 2025, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-linked rebel group, conducted a series of violent attacks in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), resulting in the deaths of 89 civilians. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, reported that among the deceased were at least 20 women and an unspecified number of children. The ADF's assaults included a particularly brutal attack on a health center in the village of Byambwe, where 17 individuals, including 11 women seeking maternity care, were killed, and the facility was set ablaze.

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The ADF originated in Uganda in the late 1990s and has since established a stronghold in the forests of eastern Congo. The group has been recognized as an affiliate of the Islamic State. Despite ongoing military operations by the Congolese army and Ugandan forces against the ADF, the group continues to perpetrate violence in the region. The North Kivu province is also affected by the presence of other armed groups, notably the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, which complicates the security situation. The U.S. and Qatar are currently mediating efforts to broker peace in the region, which is seen as vital for improving humanitarian conditions and attracting foreign investments in the mining sector.

The recent surge in violence has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that over 30,000 individuals have been displaced due to the attacks, with many families fleeing their homes amid fears of further violence. Local humanitarian partners have indicated that the attacks have not only resulted in fatalities but also in the looting of medical supplies and the kidnapping of health workers, severely impacting healthcare access in the region.

In light of these events, MONUSCO has called upon the Congolese authorities to initiate independent investigations to identify and prosecute those responsible for the massacres. Critics argue that the ongoing violence highlights the inadequacy of current military and diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region and protect civilians.

While MONUSCO reported 89 fatalities, local humanitarian sources indicated that more than 45 people had been killed since the violence escalated, suggesting discrepancies in casualty figures. Additionally, the exact number of children among the casualties remains undetermined, indicating gaps in the reporting of the full impact of the attacks.

• “MONUSCO urges the Congolese authorities to promptly initiate independent and credible investigations to identify the perpetrators and accomplices of these massacres and bring them to justice,” — MONUSCO Statement

• “The violence is blamed on scores of militia groups operating in the eastern DRC, mainly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which include the M23 Movement, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, and the Allied Democratic Forces.” — OCHA Report

The situation in eastern Congo remains precarious, with ongoing violence from the ADF and other armed groups posing significant challenges to both security and humanitarian efforts in the region.

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