Days After Massacre, ADF Kills 24 More Christians

During the night of June 2, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked the village of Mbau, located about 12 miles from Beni City in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), leaving at least 24 Christians dead, according to preliminary reports. Among the victims were a local pastor and his wife.

The attack occurred just days after another brutal overnight attack nine miles away on May 30, which left 15 dead in the village of Ngadi.

The latest massacre has intensified concerns about the worsening security situation in a region that remains under the protection of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), supported by the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF), and United Nations peacekeepers from MONUSCO. For many residents, the attack has raised difficult questions about how armed militants continue to strike repeatedly in areas where ample security forces are present.

Edgar Mateso, a political analyst and political philosopher, described the situation as deeply troubling.

“It is not normal for the enemy to operate twice within the same area without being stopped, while the area is under the full control of the regular army, supported by the UPDF (Ugandan army) and MONUSCO peacekeepers,” he said.

Mateso added that the repeated attacks reveal serious shortcomings in the current security strategy and require an urgent response from authorities in Kinshasa. He said he believes the government must fundamentally rethink its approach to the ADF threat in eastern DRC.

Without a thorough review of military operations and security governance, he argued, the people of North Kivu province will continue to suffer under a conflict that has lasted for far too long. Ending the activities of these violent militants, he insisted, “should no longer be viewed as a secondary mission but rather as one of the nation’s highest priorities.”

Growing Weary

In less than a week, ADF fighters have killed more than 40 people in attacks targeting both Beni City and the surrounding territory. Beyond the loss of life, several civilians were reportedly abducted during the assaults and remain in captivity. Their fate is uncertain, and hopes for their safe return continue to diminish with each passing day.

The violence has left many families searching for missing relatives and living under the constant fear of further attacks. Community leaders say the psychological toll on residents is becoming increasingly severe as the violence continues.

Kasereka, a Baptist pastor in Beni, said it is hard not to grow weary from the ongoing attacks.

“For Christians in North Kivu,” he said, “these massacres are yet another reminder of the insecurity that has plagued the region for years and has hindered the mission we are carrying out.”

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