August 2022 North Kivu attacks

August 2022 North Kivu attacks
Part of Kivu conflict
LocationNorth Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
DateAugust 25-30, 2022
Deaths54+ (per International Crisis Group)[1]
40+ (per local groups)[2]
76 kidnapped[2]
Perpetrator Allied Democratic Forces

Between August 25 and 30, 2022, fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces attacked six villages in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing over fifty-four people.

Prelude

The ADF is a Ugandan jihadist group formed in the 1990s, but spread to eastern Congo in the 2010s.[3] In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, and a subsequent uptick in civilian attacks occurred.[3] In the summer of 2022, the ADF ramped up attacks in North Kivu, with attacks in Otomabere and Kandoyi killing dozens. with On August 11-12, the ADF freed 800 inmates at a prison in Butembo, killing two policemen in the process.[4]

Attack

Villagers from Nord-Kivu claimed that the ADF had crossed over from neighboring Ituri province in search of arable land, and attacked six villages in North Kivu around the night of August 25.[5] On August 27, three civilians were killed by the ADF in a locality of Bashu chiefdom, according to a local chief.[6] At 5 am that same day in Kavasewa, a nearby village, the ADF attacked a military outpost before assaulting the village, burning down dozens of houses and bludgeoning multiple women to death.[6] On August 29, an ADF attack west of Oicha killed two.

Attacks ramped up again on August 30, with the ADF pillaging the villages of Alima and Laliya.[7] Fourteen villagers were killed in these attacks. The Congolese army also claimed to have secured control over the area after the ADF left.[7] On the same day, ADF fighters assaulted the hamlet of Beu-Manyama, killing five villagers. International crisis groups, local hospitals, and local human rights groups assessed that the total death toll was over fifty people killed by the ADF in six days.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ "September Alerts and August Trends 2022". www.crisisgroup.org. August 31, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Kambale, Erikas Mwisi (August 30, 2022). "Militants kill at least 40 villagers in east Congo attacks" – via www.reuters.com.
  3. ^ a b "The Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamic State affiliate in the Democratic Republic of Congo". Congressional Research Service. September 1, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "September Alerts and August Trends 2022". www.crisisgroup.org. 2022-08-31. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  5. ^ a b Kambale, Erikas Mwisi (2022-08-30). "Militants kill at least 40 villagers in east Congo attacks". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  6. ^ a b Etahoben, Chief Bisong (2022-08-29). "Civilians, Soldiers Die Following 3 Days Of Fighting In Eastern DR Congo". HumAngle. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  7. ^ a b Etahoben, Chief Bisong (2022-09-01). "ADF Rebels Continue Attack On Democratic Republic Of Congo Civilians, Kill 14". HumAngle. Retrieved 2023-03-20.