KINSHASA, Congo (AP) 鈥� attacked a village in Congo near the border with Uganda early Saturday, killing at least 13 people and burning and looting homes, a local civil society group said.
The attacks occurred in the village of Banana 脡cole, a suburb of the territorial capital of Mambasa.
Marie-Noelle Anotane, the head of the New Civil Society of Congo/Mambasa, and Sylvain Andali, a local resident, told The Associated Press that , or ADF, were behind the violence.
Both said the militants used known ADF tactics.
鈥淭his death toll of 13 civilians is only provisional because most residents aren鈥檛 responding to calls, and searches are continuing in other surrounding villages,鈥� said Anotane.
The attacks forced people to choose between staying or risking travel to other parts of the province where the in history rages.
鈥淚 decided to leave Mambasa for Bunia because I fear repeated attacks by the ADF,” said Andali. 鈥淢any of my neighbors have already died, and I must protect my life and the lives of my family.鈥�
The ADF, which has roots in Uganda and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2019, has long operated in the border region. It is one of numerous groups operating in Congo, routinely attacking civilians. In July 2025, the group in what the United Nations called a 鈥渂loodbath.鈥�
The country also faces attacks from roughly 100 other rebel groups, most prominently the Rwanda-backed , which has seized key cities in the eastern region.
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