OMM Newsroom
At least 24 civilians were killed in an overnight attack on several villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to civil society leader Jean Katuho, Anadolu Agency reported.
The attack took place in Beni territory, North Kivu province, overnight from Thursday into Friday. Katuho said the provisional death toll was 24 civilians.
“The rebels launched simultaneous attacks targeting several villages,” he said. The attackers also burned several houses and businesses as they fled toward a forest.
Local media reported that the violence forced many residents to leave their homes and seek refuge in safer nearby localities.
Earlier on Thursday, James Swan, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), met North Kivu provincial leaders to discuss security in the region. He reaffirmed MONUSCO’s commitment to supporting Congolese authorities in efforts to restore peace and security.
“The protection of civilians remains our priority. As you know, this requires an active presence on the ground, regular patrols, better anticipation of threats as well as the ability to react quickly when communities are in danger,” Swan said.
Ugandan and Congolese forces have conducted joint operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) since 2021. The group has been active in eastern Congo for several years and is affiliated with ISIS (Daesh).
The ADF killed more than 1,000 civilians in Congo in 2025 and remains among the most dangerous armed groups in eastern Congo, according to a UN experts’ report published in July.
