ADF attacks kill at least 22 civilians in eastern DRC

In late July 2026 the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) carried out a series of attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. At least 16 civilians were slain with machetes in Mununze, 22 bodies were recovered in the Beni‑Mangina area, and further reports cite 18 deaths among gold‑miners in the Ituri mining zone. Victims included a local radio technician, dozens of artisanal miners, and women and children, many of whom were found with hands bound and throats cut. The violence prompted a mass exodus of residents from villages such as Nziapanda, Bela, Mununzi and Makiki toward the city of Beni. Human‑rights groups and NGOs have condemned the attacks, urging the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) to step up patrols and protect civilians, especially as the region continues to battle an Ebola outbreak that has already claimed over 1,000 lives. The attacks underscore the persistent insecurity in the mineral‑rich east and the difficulty of delivering health and humanitarian aid amid ongoing rebel activity.