On Sunday, seven bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were discovered on the outskirts of Mangina, a town in the Beni territory of North Kivu province in Congo. The governor’s delegation in Mangina confirmed that the victims were villagers who had been executed with machetes by militiamen of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-affiliated group. This attack occurred after a previous incident where three people were killed in Mangina.
The mayor of Mangina, Rocky Muvunga, stated that the victims were residents of the town who were found in their fields outside the commune. The ADF had planned to attack Mangina and anyone they encountered was mercilessly killed. Local youth discovered the bodies and notified the wazalendos, or self-defense groups, in the area.
The ADF is a violent Ugandan group responsible for numerous atrocities, including the murder of 1,200 civilians in 2021. The bodies of the victims were found by the wazalendos and buried as they were in a decomposed state. The discovery of the bodies has raised concerns about ongoing violence and instability in the region.
The incident highlights ongoing threats posed by armed groups in the region and their impact on local communities. The violence inflicted on innocent civilians by these groups serves as a stark reminder of challenges faced by those living in conflict-affected areas. It is imperative for authorities and humanitarian organizations to address root causes of violence and work towards sustainable peace and security in
