Democratic Republic of Congo: Jihadist attack leaves at least nine dead, with shops looted and homes set ablaze

Image: Jihad Watch

At least nine people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a brutal overnight assault by fighters linked to the Islamic State, according to local reports on Sunday.

The attack unfolded between Saturday night and early Sunday in the town of Oicha, located in North Kivu province. Eyewitnesses and civil society representatives said that members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group that has terrorized the region for decades, stormed into civilian areas, looted shops, and set homes ablaze, leaving destruction and fear in their wake.

Isaac Kavalami, head of a local civil society organization, confirmed the toll, noting that “during this incursion, the ADF enemy killed eight civilians and a police officer.” His statement highlighted the vulnerability of local communities, who had previously warned authorities about the looming threat but received no preventive action.

The Congolese military also attributed the attack to the ADF. Lieutenant Marc Elongo, the regional army spokesperson, said the assault was an act of reprisal by the militants, carried out in retaliation for ongoing military offensives against them. Despite the presence of security forces, the attackers struck with impunity, underscoring the difficulty of containing their operations.

The ADF, originally formed in the mid-1990s by mostly Muslim Ugandan rebels, has entrenched itself in northeastern DRC, near the border with Uganda. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019 and has since been recognized as one of its most lethal African affiliates. Over the years, the ADF has killed thousands of civilians, spread terror through massacres, and displaced communities, even as joint operations by Ugandan and Congolese forces attempt to dismantle their strongholds.

The latest massacre in Oicha reflects both the resilience and brutality of the group, as well as the persistent challenges faced by the Congolese state in securing its eastern territories. For local residents, the attack is yet another grim reminder of how deeply insecurity has become embedded in their daily lives.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)