At least 25 civilians were killed in a brutal attack carried out by militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), according to a local human rights organization. The assault, attributed to the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), underscores the persistent insecurity gripping eastern Congo and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by regional and international efforts to protect civilians amid multiple overlapping conflicts.

The Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), a civil society organization monitoring violence in the region, reported that ADF fighters attacked the village of Apakulu in Ituri province early on the morning of January 25. According to the group, militants targeted civilians in their homes and along nearby roads, leaving at least 25 people dead over a two-day period.

CRDH stated that 15 men were killed when attackers set fire to a house in which they had been trapped. Seven other civilians were reportedly killed along a road as they attempted to flee the violence. In addition to the January 25 attack, the group said three people were killed the previous day in nearby communities, including Ahombo and Mangwalo, suggesting a coordinated campaign of violence across multiple villages.

Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of CRDH, described the incident as a massacre and warned that armed groups continue to exploit the absence of security forces in remote rural areas. He urged the Congolese government to reinforce troop deployments in vulnerable communities to prevent further civilian deaths.

“This incursion by the ADF is a true massacre,” Munyanderu said, emphasizing that the attackers took........

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