On Sunday, seven bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were found on the outskirts of Mangina, a town in the province of North Kivu, Congo. The victims were villagers who had been brutally murdered by militiamen of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group linked to Islamic State. This attack occurred after a previous incident where three people were killed in Mangina.
The mayor of Mangina, Rocky Muvunga, stated that the victims were residents of the town who were discovered in their fields outside the commune. The ADF had planned to attack Mangina and mercilessly killed anyone they encountered. Local youth found the bodies and alerted the wazalendos, or self-defense groups, in the area.
The ADF is a violent Ugandan group responsible for numerous atrocities, including the murder of 1,200 civilians in 2021. The bodies of the victims were found by the wazalendos and buried as they were in a decomposed state. The discovery of these bodies has raised concerns about ongoing violence and instability in the region.
The incident highlights the ongoing threat posed by armed groups in the region and their impact on local communities. The violence and brutality inflicted on innocent civilians by these groups are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those living in conflict-affected areas. It is crucial for authorities and humanitarian organizations to address
