In brief
A suspected assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Cantine area of Beni territory, North Kivu, killed at least 30 people, including civilians, security personnel and civil society members. Security operators deployed reinforcements and launched searches while awaiting confirmation on hostages reportedly taken by the rebels. The attack comes amid a surge of ADF activity that has triggered joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces.
A suspected assault by the ADF, a Ugandan‑based rebel group, killed at least 30 people in Cantine, a locality within Beni territory in North Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, during the night of Thursday into Friday, sources said Friday. The death toll includes civilians, security personnel and civil society members, officials confirmed.
Security streams in Beni indicated that the attackers entered the village, killed residents, and set fire to several houses. Reinforcements were rapidly deployed to the area, and operations to pursue the assailants are ongoing. Search teams are combing nearby villages and surrounding areas to locate missing persons.
In addition to the casualties, sources reported that several people were taken hostage by the rebels as they withdrew, but the status of those hostages remains unconfirmed. The possibility of ongoing detentions is being investigated by local security forces.
The attack occurs amid a resurgence of violence attributed to the ADF across North Kivu and neighboring Ituri province. In recent months the group has intensified attacks on civilians, targeting villages, markets and community centers.
Confronting the threat, Congolese and Ugandan armed forces have coordinated joint military operations since November 2021 to track and neutralize the ADF. The latest escalation reinforces the urgency of the collaboration, as forces on the ground continue to conduct incursions and establish checkpoints in high‑risk zones.
