Over 20 killed by suspected Islamists in eastern Congo, local officials say

Suspected Islamist rebels carried out a deadly attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province on Wednesday, leaving over 20 people dead, according to local officials on Thursday.

Why This Matters: The attack targeted the village of Mayikengo in Lubero territory, as confirmed by Lubero administrator Alain Kiwewa. The toll, ranging between 20 and 30 casualties, was reported on Thursday morning. Kiwewa attributed the violence to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State that has operated in eastern Congo's jungles for nearly three decades.

Sector chief Macaire Sivikunula corroborated the account, stating that 25 people, including six women, were killed in the attack. He also blamed the ADF for the atrocity.

According to Sivikunula, the assailants lured residents to gather in a market under the guise of a meeting before launching a brutal assault using firearms and machetes.

This incident comes on the heels of similar attacks by the ADF, which claimed the lives of over 80 people in villages across the same province last week, further intensifying concerns about the group's reign of terror in the region.

Key Takeaways:

• Suspected Islamist rebels conduct deadly attack in eastern Congo village.
• Over 20 casualties reported, attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces.
• Attack targeted Mayikengo village in Lubero territory.
• Assailants lured residents to a market before launching the assault.
• Previous attacks by ADF in the same province resulted in over 80 deaths.