Islamists suspected of killing about 20 individuals in japanese Congo raid

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Suspected Islamists killed about 20 individuals in a raid on a village in japanese Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday evening, a neighborhood chief and a navy official stated on Monday.

Each blamed the killings on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan armed group primarily based in japanese Congo that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and wages frequent assaults.

“We had been attacked final evening within the village of Mukungwe in Beni territory. It’s the ADFs who stormed the village,” stated Eugene Matsozi, the customary chief of the realm.

“Up to now we now have buried 24 individuals,” he stated.

Colonel Charles Omeonga, the navy administrator of Beni territory, stated “round 20” villagers had been killed however that he was ready for a last evaluation.

Troops are in pursuit of the attackers, he added.

Beni territory is in North Kivu province, considered one of two conflict-hit provinces the place Congo changed civilian authorities with navy administrations greater than a 12 months in the past in an try and stem the bloodshed.

Uganda has additionally despatched troops into Congo to assist struggle the ADF.

The Congolese military blamed the ADF for killing 14 individuals in a church bombing in North Kivu province final Sunday, for which Islamic State claimed accountability.

(Reporting by Erikas Mwisi Kambale; Writing by Nellie Peyton and Paul Simao)