KINSHASA, DR Congo
At least 17 people were killed
by extremist rebels in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, local authorities
said.
Civilians were killed by
fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces — believed to be linked with the
Islamic State group — in the Bambuba-kisiki area in Beni territory, said Sabiti
Njiamoja, a deputy to the local governor, on Monday.
“We buried 10 bodies on
Sunday. The victims are civilians killed by ADF between Thursday and Friday in
Kainana. Seven others were found on Monday,” he said.
Conflict has been simmering
for decades in eastern Congo, where more than 120 armed groups are fighting.
Most are vying for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some
groups are trying to protect their communities.
Since last April, ADF attacks
have killed at least 370 civilians and several hundred people have been
abducted, including a significant number of children, according to the UN. The
group also extended its area of operations to Goma and into the neighboring
Ituri province.
In March, the group claimed
responsibility for killing more than 35 people and wounding dozens in
Mukondi village, also in North Kivu province.
The fighting is exacerbating
eastern Congo’s dire humanitarian crisis. Almost 6 million people are
internally displaced in Congo with more than 450,000 displaced in North Kivu
province. Hundreds of thousands are facing extreme food insecurity, and disease
is spreading, aid groups say.
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