KINSHASA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 80 people were killed in a series of attacks by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the government said, as the African Union (AU) on Wednesday condemned the "heinous terrorist attack."
According to provincial authorities cited in a government statement, at least 71 people were killed and several others went missing after an ADF attack late Monday in Ntoyo in the Lubero territory of North Kivu Province. Colonel Alain Kiwewa, Lubero's administrator, told Xinhua the death toll has risen to over 80.
In a statement, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf strongly condemned the attack in Ntoyo and the recurrent violence targeting civilians in the eastern DRC. He reiterated the AU's commitment to supporting national, regional, and international efforts to restore peace, security, and stability in the Great Lakes region.
The government said another 18 people were killed overnight, Monday to Tuesday, in separate ADF attacks on two villages in the Beni territory, also in North Kivu. It reaffirmed its determination to step up efforts to protect civilians, restore security, and work with partners to end ADF activities.
The ADF, an Islamic State affiliate in Central Africa, has intensified attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces in recent months, mostly targeting civilians.
According to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC, ADF assaults claimed at least 52 lives in North Kivu between Aug. 9 and 16. In late July, around 40 civilians were killed during an attack on a Catholic church in Ituri.
Joint Congolese and Ugandan military operations against the ADF have been ongoing since November 2021, but the rebel group continues to carry out deadly raids. ■