Recent news has been marked by a new attack attributed to ADF rebels in the Beni region, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the night from Thursday to Friday, the villages of Maobo and Makodu were the target of this attack, leading to the death of nine civilians and the disappearance of several people.
According to civil society sources, the attackers attacked these two villages simultaneously, burning houses and causing panic among the local population. Provisional reports show five victims in Maobo and four in Makodu, but the search for the missing people is still underway.
Faced with this situation, the army was deployed in the region to restore calm and secure the surrounding villages. The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) assure that the situation is under control and promise to provide a more precise assessment in the hours to come.
These attacks perpetrated by ADF rebels are unfortunately recurrent in the Beni region, regularly causing the death of innocent civilians. The ADF, also known as the Allied Democratic Forces, is an armed group active in eastern DRC for more than two decades. Their presence and violent actions have led to massive displacement of the local population and persistent insecurity in the region.
It is crucial that the Congolese authorities as well as the international community take measures to end the threat from armed groups and guarantee the security of civilian populations. It is also essential to support efforts to address the humanitarian needs of displaced people and promote stability in the region.
This new attack by ADF rebels in the Beni region highlights the urgency of finding lasting solutions to end insecurity and protect the lives of civilians. The coordinated work of security forces, humanitarian organizations and the international community is essential to achieve peace and stability in this battered region.
It is important not to forget the human consequences of these attacks and to continue to raise public awareness of the situation in eastern DRC. Innocent civilians should never be targeted and we must all commit to supporting efforts to pacify and rebuild this region devastated by armed conflict.