In a series of deadly attacks over the weekend, rebel groups claimed the lives of at least 21 people, according to local officials.
Bwito township in northeastern Congo was one of the sites of the attacks on Sunday, August 6. The M23 rebel group, previously identified by the United Nations as having potential ties to Rwanda, targeted and killed 11 civilians, with several locals still missing. The group rose to prominence roughly a decade ago after seizing Goma, a major city in eastern Congo, pushing for the execution of a 2009 peace agreement.
Another incident in a northeastern province saw 10 civilians fall victim to rebels associated with the Islamic State group. Eastern Congo has been a hotspot for conflict, with over 120 groups vying for control over mineral-rich territories, leading to regular large-scale casualties and displacement of residents.
The Bwito attack followed skirmishes between M23 and local defense factions. Jonas Pandanzi, a regional leader, highlighted the absence of government military intervention during the attack.
On the preceding day, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), now affiliated with the Islamic State group, were responsible for the deaths of 10 civilians in the same region. Additionally, the remains of victims from a July 29 attack in Walese-Vilonkutu have yet to be buried.
The ADF has a history of targeting civilians in isolated eastern Congo regions and neighboring Uganda. A notable attack in June resulted in 42 casualties, predominantly students.
