IS-Linked Rebels Kill 66 Civilians in Eastern Congo Irumu

Rebels affiliated with the Islamic State group, specifically the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), killed 66 civilians in the Irumu area of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo near the Uganda border. The victims, including women, were reportedly killed with machetes in what has been described as a "bloodbath" by the United Nations mission spokesperson in Ituri. This attack is believed to be a retaliation against a recent bombing campaign by joint Congolese and Ugandan forces targeting the ADF. The ADF, originating in Uganda in the late 1990s and linked with IS since 2019, has intensified attacks in eastern Congo, spreading violence toward Goma and Ituri province. The group remains a significant threat in the region, regularly targeting civilians and abducting many, including children, amid ongoing conflict involving other rebel groups like M23. The death toll and the number of hostages remain uncertain, underscoring the continuing instability in eastern Congo.