Ituri: 14 civilians killed in attacks attributed to ADF
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Potentiel
APDEF Mambasa’s monitoring team reported 14 civilians killed in three localities of Bangole grouping, Ituri: five in Kalongo, two in Mabangu and seven in Dondola. The organisation called on the Congolese army to strengthen its presence amid a resurgence of attacks attributed to ADF in Babila Babombi chiefdom, according to Le Potentiel.
APDEF Mambasa recorded five people killed in Kalongo, two in Mabangungu and seven in Dondola, bringing to 14 the number of civilians killed in these attacks attributed to ADF in Ituri. The organisation said searches were continuing to find any other possible victims.
APDEF Mambasa called on the Armed Forces of the DR Congo to strengthen their presence on the ground and anticipate the movements of the attackers. It also urged residents of Makumo, Lukaya, Biakato, Mitume, Kasoko, Manzia and Makumbo to remain vigilant and advised against visiting certain areas west of Biakato and Makumo before military operations pass through.
The violence follows a series of attacks attributed to ADF in Babila Babombi chiefdom. The previous day, APDEF Mambasa had raised the civilian death toll from 22 to 35 after new bodies were discovered, with nine motorcycles burned, twelve houses set on fire and fourteen people reported missing.
The new attacks are part of the same sequence of violence as those that led to 35 deaths in Ituri, announced on 12 November.
