At least 35 people were killed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in North Kivu, a province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to local sources.

The attack occurred in the village of Ombele, within the Lubero territory. Local reports indicate that the death toll may rise as many civilians have been taken hostage or are missing. The search for victims in burned-down houses has been ongoing since Wednesday morning.

The ADF, founded in the 1990s by several Ugandan opposition movements, continues to operate in eastern DRC after being defeated by the Ugandan army. Since late 2021, the DRC and Ugandan military forces have conducted joint operations to track down the group, which is now affiliated with the Islamic State.

Local authorities and humanitarian organizations are working to assess the full extent of the damage and provide assistance to the affected communities. (ILKHA)