A violent attack by militants affiliated with the Islamic State group has left at least 13 people dead in a village near the border of Congo and Uganda. The assault occurred early Saturday in Banana École, a suburb located in the territorial capital of Mambasa. In addition to the loss of life, the attackers reportedly looted and burned local homes.
Marie-Noelle Anotane, the head of the New Civil Society of Congo/Mambasa, confirmed the death toll alongside local resident Sylvain Andali. Both sources identified the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) as the perpetrators, noting that the militants employed tactics consistent with the group's known patterns of violence. Anotane cautioned that the current death toll of 13 is only provisional, explaining that many residents are not responding to communication efforts and that search operations are still underway in surrounding areas.
The region remains volatile, forcing residents to navigate dangerous choices between staying in their homes or fleeing to other parts of the province, which is currently grappling with a severe Ebola outbreak. Expressing his fear for his family’s safety, Andali stated that he had decided to flee Mambasa for Bunia, noting that many of his neighbors have already perished in the violence.
The ADF, which has deep roots in Uganda and formally pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, has long maintained a presence in the border region. The group is one of approximately 100 rebel organizations operating within Congo, where they frequently target civilians. In July 2025, the ADF was responsible for an attack that killed 66 people in eastern Congo, an event the United Nations described as a bloodbath. The country faces ongoing instability from these numerous armed groups, most notably the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have successfully seized several key cities in the eastern part of the nation.
