Butembo, DRC – The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have perpetrated another massacre. At least 18 people were killed in an attack on a health center on the night of Friday, November 15, 2025, according to local and security sources contacted by AFP.

The Modus Operandi of the ADF

The incursion took place in the village of Biambwe, about 40 kilometers west of the commercial city of Butembo, an area frequently targeted by the group.

1. The rebels attacked and burned down the Biambwe health center .
2. According to Marcel Mumbere Kanzoka, police secretary of Biambwe, 16 victims were recorded at the health center, and two more in the surrounding neighborhoods, bringing the initial death toll to 18.
3. Houses were also burned down and several residents are missing .
4. Later in the day, the local Red Cross reported a higher death toll of 23 .

The Context of the Violence in Eastern Congo

For nearly thirty years, eastern DRC has been plagued by instability, fueled by a multitude of armed groups and militias .

1. Area of ADF activity: This group, formed by former Ugandan rebels and having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is known for its repeated massacres in the provinces of North Kivu (north) and Ituri. Since July, the ADF has killed more than 190 people in the region, according to an AFP tally.
2. Other tensions: The region is also facing the advance of other groups, such as the M23 (supported by Rwanda), which seized vast territories in North Kivu and South Kivu at the beginning of the year.

The Failure of the Joint Operation

In 2021, the Ugandan army deployed to North Kivu and Ituri to conduct joint operations with the Congolese army against the ADF. However, despite this military intervention, the violence continues.

The rebels favour attacks against civilian populations, avoiding direct confrontations with the armed forces, which compromises the effectiveness of the joint operation.