**Scandal in the headlines: The unacceptable violence of ADF fighters shakes North Kivu**
In a region already ravaged by conflict and violence, a new wave of horror is hitting the territory of Lubero, in North Kivu, hard. Alarming reports from local authorities indicate at least 14 deaths in the village of Kyanganda, following a brutal attack by suspected ADF fighters. Among the victims are mainly young people, who fell under the merciless blows of their tormentors, in a scene of unspeakable cruelty.
The chilling testimony of the head of the Bapere sector, Macaire Sivikunula, reveals the horror of the attack: the ADF rebels burst into the village, rounding up the inhabitants before massacring them in a barbaric manner. Some were tied up, others decapitated with machetes, testifying to absurd and gratuitous violence. The bodies still lie on the ground, leaving an atmosphere of terror and mourning, while the threat persists in the region.
The military administrator of Lubero, Colonel Alain Kiwewa, also raises the particularly disturbing aspect of this attack: the attackers managed to bypass army positions, highlighting worrying security flaws. Despite the presence of armed forces in the region, civilians remain easy prey for these armed groups determined to sow terror and death.
This tragedy is unfortunately just one of a series of bloody attacks perpetrated by the ADF in the Lubero region. Last June, the village of Maakengo had already been the scene of a massacre which cost the lives of 42 innocent people, highlighting the recurrence of violence which affects vulnerable populations in the region.
North Kivu, once considered a relatively peaceful area despite the presence of various local armed groups, now sees its tranquility threatened from all sides. In addition to the ADF, the specter of the M23 also looms over the region, testifying to the persistent instability which is plaguing North Kivu and endangering the lives of innocent civilians.
Faced with this escalation of unacceptable violence, it is imperative that concrete and effective measures be taken to protect civilian populations, guarantee security in the region and put an end to the abuses of armed groups. The emergency is glaring, and the international community must act in solidarity with the ravaged populations of North Kivu, to put an end to this spiral of senseless violence which is tearing lives and families apart.