At least 43 civilians have been killed in a fresh attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The assault, which occurred between Wednesday evening and the early hours of Thursday, targeted Bafwakao village, the administrative headquarters of Bafwakao groupement, located along National Road Number 4, about 148 kilometres from Mambasa toward Kisangani.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) confirmed the killings and extensive destruction of property. Lt Jules Ngongo Tshikudi, spokesperson for the FARDC Ituri Operational Sector, said 43 civilians were killed, while 44 houses, a dump truck and five motorcycles were burned during the attack.
Ngongo condemned the assault as barbaric and a serious violation of human dignity and fundamental rights. He reassured residents that security forces were reinforcing measures to protect civilians and restore order in the area, adding that targeted military operations had been intensified to track down and dismantle ADF networks.
He urged the public to remain vigilant, cooperate with security forces and report any suspicious movements that could help curb the insurgency. However, local leaders criticised the military’s response.
Yuma Mungeni, president of civil society in the area, said the attack began at around 5:00 pm, but security forces only intervened about two hours later. A resident, Jospin Paluku Mbowa, also raised concern over the continued mobility of ADF fighters, calling for urgent and decisive action to end the persistent insecurity.
The latest killings come amid a surge in ADF attacks in Mambasa Territory. Between March 9 and 15, 2026, the group reportedly attacked the Muchacha gold mine in Muchacha and Babesua localities, killing at least 50 civilians.
Despite ongoing joint military operations by Ugandan and Congolese forces since 2021, the ADF continues to launch deadly raids on civilian populations. Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 25, 2026, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif said ADF militants have killed more than 260 people and displaced thousands since October 2025 across Ituri, North Kivu and Tshopo provinces.
The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group formed in 1995, is now based in eastern DRC. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2017 and has since been designated a terrorist organisation by both Uganda and the United States. It is notorious for carrying out high-casualty attacks targeting civilians.
