Full Breakdown
Allied Democratic Forces’ War Crimes in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Amnesty Report Highlights Atrocities and Calls for Action
5/6/2026, 6:29:02 PM
Overview of ADF Atrocities in Eastern DRC
The Islamist-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have carried out a series of attacks on civilians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Documented incidents include the September 8 2025 massacre at a wake in Ntoyo ( > 60 deaths), the November 2025 assault on a health centre in Byambwe ( >= 17 deaths, four wards burned), and the July 12 2025 raid on Otmaber ( 8 deaths). Tactics involve disguises, hand-held weapons (hammers, axes, machetes), firearms, arson, abductions, forced labour, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and the recruitment of children as fighters, porters, and look-outs.
Historical Background and ISIS Affiliation
The ADF emerged in the 1990s in Uganda as a merger of opposition groups, later relocating to Zaire (now the DRC). In 2019 the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, becoming the organization’s Central Africa Province. The rise of the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) in early 2025 diverted FARDC troops, creating a security gap that the ADF exploited.
Key Actors
- Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – Islamist rebel group operating in eastern DRC.
- Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) – National army engaged in counter-insurgency.
- Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) – Partnered with FARDC in a joint operation since November 2021.
- United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) – UN peacekeeping force reduced by 15 % budget and 25 % staff, limiting rapid response.
- Amnesty International – Human-rights organization that produced the report “I’d Never Seen So Many Bodies.”
- Agnès Callamard – Secretary-General of Amnesty International, spokesperson for the findings.
Timeline of Documented Attacks
- 2024 – One ADF attack recorded (details unspecified).
- July 12 2025 – Otmaber (Ituri) raid, 8 civilians killed.
- August 2025 – Village house set ablaze; survivor reports a child killed.
- September 8 2025 – Ntoyo wake massacre, > 60 deaths.
- November 2025 – Byambwe health-centre attack, >= 17 deaths, wards torched.
- April 2026 – FARDC and UPDF rescue ? 200 captives along the River Epulu.
Scale of Abuse (Data & Statistics)
- 71 interviews conducted ( 61 in-person).
- 46 documented abduction cases; 7 hostages held for ransom.
- 8 distinct attacks verified across North Kivu and Ituri.
- Children as young as 10 used in combat roles; 13-17-year-olds abducted.
- Forced marriages reported by 7 women/girls; 6 of them became pregnant.
Humanitarian Impact
The campaign has displaced thousands, disrupted access to food, health care, and education, and inflicted severe psychological trauma. Survivors describe chronic fear, nightmares, and stigma upon reintegration. The loss of medical facilities further hampers treatment of injuries and disease.
Official Statements & Responses
Amnesty International urges the Congolese government to cooperate with the UN and local communities to establish early-warning mechanisms and rapid-response teams. The organization calls for comprehensive security reforms, accountability for perpetrators, and long-term support for victims. MONUSCO’s reduced capacity and intermittent FARDC presence are cited as factors limiting protection.
Criticism of Security Gaps
Witnesses report that FARDC units stationed nearby often arrived late or not at all during ADF raids. MONUSCO’s budget cuts have curtailed personnel, weakening its ability to intervene. Critics argue that the focus on M23 has allowed the ADF to expand operations unchecked.
Eyewitness Accounts
Survivors recount indiscriminate gunfire, the use of axes in close-quarter killings, and the burning of homes while civilians were forced inside. Several describe being compelled to carry heavy loads for days under threat of execution.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Exact numbers of ADF combatants remain unknown, and total casualty figures beyond the documented attacks are not provided. Sources differ on the extent of the group’s relationship with the Islamic State, with some describing formal allegiance and others noting an ambiguous link.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Civilians in the eastern DRC have suffered extensive brutality at the hands of ADF fighters. They have been killed, abducted and tortured in a dehumanising campaign of abuse,” — Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary-General
- “I’d never seen so many bodies.” — Survivor, Ntoyo village, September 2025
- “You couldn’t stand; they shot at anything that moved.” — Survivor, Byambwe health-centre, November 2025
- “They taught us how to kill with weapons and with blades… In the bush, you had to do what you were told. You cannot be weak.” — Escaped captive, former ADF abductee
- “The Congolese government must take far stronger action to ensure the protection of civilians.” — Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International
Prospects for Protection
Amnesty recommends strengthening early-warning networks, expanding joint FARDC-UPDF operations, restoring MONUSCO resources, and implementing robust reintegration programmes for former abductees, especially children and women subjected to sexual slavery. International donors are urged to sustain funding for these measures to halt further war-crime violations.
