Rebel attacks kill 30 civilians in DR Congo

Thirty civilians were killed in two villages in Ituri province in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in attacks by armed forces of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), local sources said Monday.

David Beza, head of the Red Cross in Irumu (south of Ituri province), said that the attacks took place on Sunday and Monday in two villages near the city of Komanda, the first in Chauri Moya village, killing nine civilians, while the second in Mangosu village killing 17 civilians, in When four other civilians were killed in an attack on them while crossing a bridge over the Ituri River.

The attacks were confirmed by the Kivu Security Observatory, which is composed of researchers located in conflict areas in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The observatory said in a tweet on Twitter on Monday evening that "at least 18 civilians were killed in Mangosu village (...) today, Monday."

"It is suspected that the Allied Democratic Forces were behind this attack," he added, without giving an outcome of the other two attacks that local sources reported as having occurred.

For his part, the head of the Red Cross explained that his information based on his crews operating in the area indicates that "the Allied Democratic Forces are on the run in chaotic after clashes with the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

In turn, Daniel Hirabo, the local official in Basile, said, "Since yesterday, we heard light and heavy weapons fire towards Mangusu and Shauri Moya."

He added that the rebels first attacked Chauri Moya on Sunday before attacking Mangusu on Monday morning.

Hirabo quoted eyewitnesses as saying that "the bodies of some of the 17 victims were bound, others were slaughtered, and others were shot."

The local official confirmed that fighting continued on Monday afternoon between the rebels and the army.

The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri have been under a "state of siege" since the beginning of May, an exceptional measure that grants full powers to the army, which has so far failed to stop violations committed by armed groups.

The Congolese and Ugandan armies have been waging a joint operation since November 30 against the Allied Democratic Forces in the Beni region of North Kivu province.

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