Islamic State-linked militants kill at least 13 in Congo border village

Militants affiliated with the Islamic State carried out a raid on Banana École, a village on the outskirts of Mambasa near the Ugandan border, killing at least 13 civilians and setting fire to houses while looting. Marie-Noelle Anotane, head of the New Civil Society of Congo/Mambasa, and local resident Sylvain Andali reported that the Allied Democratic Forces were responsible, employing tactics commonly associated with the group.

The death toll remains provisional as many residents have not responded to inquiries and searches continue in neighboring villages. The attack forces residents to choose between remaining in an area threatened by further violence or traveling to other parts of the province where the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak persists. The ADF, originally formed in Uganda and aligned with the Islamic State since 2019, has long operated in this border region and frequently targets civilians. Congo also faces threats from roughly 100 other rebel factions, most notably the Rwanda-backed M23, which has captured key towns in the east.