The eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to face terrorist attacks from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), in addition to the Rwandan aggression via the M23 rebellion. These attacks are mainly recorded in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, specifically in the territories of Beni, Lubero, Irumu, and Mambasa. The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), has been killing civilians for over ten years, and the violence shows no signs of abating.
According to a recent investigation by The Sentry, the ADF has gained ground due to the DRC government's strategy, which does not accord much priority to this threat, unlike the aggression by the M23, supported by Rwanda. The investigation reports that the ADF has been the most lethal armed group for civilians in eastern DRC, kidnapping children as young as nine years old to make them child soldiers. The group's attacks have included massacres in churches and during funerals, with survivors describing militants setting fire to houses, mutilating bodies, and using systematic rape as a weapon of war.
The investigation by The Sentry urges the DRC government to rebalance its security priorities to counter both the ADF and the M23. The organization recommends that the government deploy dedicated forces and conduct coordinated operations to maintain pressure on both fronts and prevent the exploitation of operational gaps. This call comes as the situation in eastern DRC remains concerning, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the war and the humanitarian situation particularly worrying in several areas.
Despite the signing of the Washington agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali and the Doha process between Kinshasa and the M23 rebellion, the situation on the ground has not evolved as expected. Hostilities persist between Kinshasa's forces and the M23 rebellion, backed by Rwanda, with mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and divergent interpretations of commitments complicating the implementation of the agreement and fueling mistrust.
The ADF's activism has also been reported in the province of Haut-Uele, an area that was not previously affected before the establishment of the state of siege and the launch of joint operations. This development has raised concerns among local leaders and civil society organizations, who argue that the measures taken so far have not yielded the desired results and have instead contributed to worsening the situation.
The DRC government has allocated a significant budget for defense, internal security, community stabilization, justice, and diplomacy in 2027. However, the effectiveness of these efforts remains to be seen, as the security situation in eastern DRC continues to deteriorate. The international community, including the United Nations, has expressed concern over the situation and urged the DRC government to take concrete steps to address the root causes of the conflict.
The situation in eastern DRC requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to address the complex security challenges posed by the ADF and the M23. The DRC government's response will be crucial in determining the course of events in the region and the fate of the civilian population, which continues to suffer the most from the ongoing violence.
Key points
- The DRC government is urged to rebalance its security priorities to address the growing threat of the ADF and the M23 rebellion.
- The ADF has gained ground due to the DRC government's strategy, which does not accord much priority to this threat.
- The situation in eastern DRC requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to address the complex security challenges posed by the ADF and the M23.
