In a series of deadly attacks over the weekend, rebel groups claimed the lives of at least 21 people, according to local officials.
On Sunday, August 6, Bwito township in northeastern Congo became a scene of violence when the M23 rebel group, which the United Nations suggests may have connections to Rwanda, launched an attack that resulted in the death of 11 civilians. The M23 group’s influence grew significantly about a decade ago after they took control of Goma, a key city in eastern Congo, advocating for the realization of a 2009 peace accord.
In another incident, in a northeastern province, rebels believed to be linked to the Islamic State group were responsible for the deaths of 10 civilians. The eastern part of Congo has been a battleground, with numerous groups competing for the region’s valuable mineral resources, causing regular fatalities and population displacements.
The incident in Bwito came after altercations between M23 and local defense units. A regional authority, Jonas Pandanzi, remarked on the lack of intervention from government forces during the assault.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), now allied with the Islamic State group, were implicated in the attack resulting in 10 civilian deaths. Furthermore, victims from a separate July 29 attack remain unburied.
Historically, the ADF has initiated several attacks on civilians in remote areas of eastern Congo and Uganda. A significant event in June saw 42 individuals, mostly students, lose their lives.