Violence and attacks organized by armed groups are intensifying in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where equilibrium is an unknown word.
According to the Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) of the United Nations, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is responsible for the new attacks. The report released on Monday informed about a series of violent attacks led by the ADF. ADF was established in 1986 by groups based in neighbouring western Uganda which spread violence along the border of the country. The report also confirmed that ADF killed 793 people between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. This episode of violence is not new as the armed group is known for burning down villages, destroying health centers and schools, among many other illegal activities, and according to the report, their intention is to leave no survivors.
The UN reported that over the past 18 months, ADF killed at least 800 civilians. Their actions have been condemned as crimes against humanity according to International law. Their violent actions are strengthened because of the “business network” stipulated among people in the security apparatus of the DRC, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania who provide ammunition and protection in exchange for economic and financial benefits. Last year, the attacks increased after the DRC's army launched a campaign against the group.
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Author: Giulia Francescon; Editor: Shrabya Ghimire
