Islamic State-Linked Rebels Kill 17 in Hospital Attack in Congo

An attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group linked to the Islamic State, resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people at a hospital in eastern Congo. The incident occurred on the night of March 15, 2024, in the village of Byambwe, located in the Lubero territory of North Kivu Province.

According to local administrator Col. Alain Kiwewa, the violence was particularly brutal, with reports indicating that several victims, including 11 women, were found with their throats slit in their hospital beds. “Women who were breastfeeding were brutally slaughtered,” Kiwewa stated. The attack on the hospital was part of a wider assault on surrounding villages, although the exact number of casualties from those incidents remains unconfirmed.

Background of Violence in Eastern Congo

The ADF has a history of targeting civilians in eastern Congo. The group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2009, operates primarily along the border with Uganda. Their recent actions have intensified concerns over security in the region. In August 2023, ADF fighters killed at least 52 people during a series of attacks within the same week, as reported by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.

In a particularly horrific incident in July 2023, the group stormed a Catholic church in Ituri Province during a vigil, opening fire on worshippers, which resulted in nearly 40 fatalities, including many women and children. The ADF has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians since its formation in the late 1990s in Uganda, where it emerged from discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.

Continued Threat from Armed Groups

The violence perpetrated by the ADF is part of a larger pattern of armed conflict in eastern Congo, where various groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, have carried out deadly attacks. Civil society leader Samuel Kakule Kagheni expressed alarm over the escalating violence, noting the challenges in providing accurate casualty reports from the affected areas.

As armed groups continue to inflict suffering on local communities, the situation in eastern Congo remains dire. The recent attack on the hospital serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat these factions pose to civilians, highlighting the urgent need for effective security measures and humanitarian assistance in the region.