By Ange Kasongo
KINSHASA, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Islamic State‑linked militants killed at least 22 civilians in a village in eastern Congo’s Ituri Province early on Sunday, according to an internal U.N. report and local civil society leaders, the latest in a series of deadly attacks in the region.
The U.N. report seen by Reuters said the assailants struck Apakolu, about 25 km (15 miles) northwest of Eringeti in Ituri province’s Irumu territory, at around 0400 GMT on Sunday, and abducted an unknown number of people.
Christophe Munyanderu, head of the local rights group known by its French acronym CRDH, based in Irumu, said 25 civilians had been killed, including 15 men whose bodies were found inside a house and seven others along a road.
The attackers were identified as members of the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan armed group active in eastern Congo that is recognised by Islamic State as an affiliate.
The U.N. report said Sunday’s attack in Apakolu came two days after ADF fighters attacked the nearby village of Kazaraho, where they clashed with the army and local militia groups.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in Kazaraho and said it also abducted and killed three Christians.
TWO SOLDIERS KILLED IN SEPARATE ATTACK
In a separate incident, local officials said ADF fighters attacked the village of Musengo in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, on Saturday night, burning houses, shops and a Catholic church.
Colonel Alain Kiwewa, administrator of Lubero territory, told Reuters that two Congolese soldiers were killed during the army’s response. He said 14 houses were destroyed, along with the local health centre and part of the church.
In a series of statements distributed on Monday by SITE Intelligence Group, Islamic State claimed responsibility for several attacks in Ituri and Lubero territories between January 23-26. The group said it killed 35 people, including two Congolese soldiers, and set fire to 20 houses and two barracks.
Congo’s army and Ugandan forces have pursued operations against the ADF, but the group’s raids persist across the region.
The ADF were responsible for 138 killings in eastern Congo in November, according to a tally published last week by the U.N. human rights office, making them one of the region’s most lethal armed groups.
(Reporting by Ange Adihe Kasongo and Congo newsroom; Writing by Clement Bonnerot; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Ros Russell)
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