ISTANBUL

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) has “strongly” condemned attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that killed at least 52 civilians in the east.

The ADF targeted the territories of Beni and Lubero in the eastern province of North Kivu in attacks from Aug. 9 - 16 that included the killing of eight women and two children, a MONUSCO statement said on Monday.

Bintou Keita, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Congo and chief of MONUSCO, said the attacks, coming on the heels of an ADF church attack in late July, were “intolerable and constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.”

An overnight assault in Komanda in the province of Ituri killed 43 civilians, including Catholic catechumens preparing for confirmation.

The UN mission urged Congolese authorities to investigate the massacres and bring those responsible to justice.

MONUSCO said in response to the renewed violence, it has bolstered its presence in North Kivu and Ituri through joint patrols, troop deployments and coordination with local authorities to protect civilians and stabilize affected areas.

It reaffirmed the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for “foreign armed groups to lay down their arms unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.”

ADF activity in eastern Congo has intensified in recent years. Originally formed in Uganda, the armed group has crossed borders to establish a foothold in the Kivu region, exploiting political instability and local conflicts.

The group is responsible for deadly attacks that have targeted security forces and civilians, often in rural areas.​​​​​​​