Intelligence Brief | Islamic State-Affiliated ADF Massacres Over 70 Civilians in DR Congo Attack
Ujasusi Blog Terrorism Monitor Desk | 10 September 2025 | 0215 BST
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📅 Date of Incident: 9 September 2025
📍 Location: Ntoyo Village, Lubero Territory, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
📈 Fatalities: At least 71 civilians
🔫 Perpetrators: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), affiliated with Islamic State
🕵️♂️ Overview
An overnight terrorist assault by Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resulted in the deaths of at least 71 civilians. The attack took place in Ntoyo village, Lubero territory of North Kivu province, while locals were gathered for a funeral. This marks one of the deadliest single-day massacres in the region this year and highlights the persistent threat posed by jihadist groups operating within the Congolese-Ugandan borderlands.
The ADF, originally formed by Ugandan Islamist militants in the 1990s, officially pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019, thereby becoming one of the most lethal Islamic State-affiliated insurgencies in Africa.
🔎 Details of the Attack
According to Macaire Sivikunula, a senior local administrator in the Bapere sector, the assailants targeted a group of mourners during a funeral ceremony. "Most of the people who were killed were at a funeral," confirmed Samuel Kagheni.
Kagheni further elaborated that at least 14 homes were set ablaze, and victims were either burnt alive inside or gunned down while fleeing.
"Some of the victims were burnt alive in their homes, and others who tried to flee were shot dead," he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Four additional individuals were reported wounded.
This violent episode comes amid a resurgence of jihadist activity in North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province.
🏛️ Profile: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)
Origins: Emerged in Uganda in the 1990s with Islamist ideology
Current Base: Eastern DRC (North Kivu & Ituri)
Islamic State Links: Declared allegiance in 2019; rebranded as Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) by IS propaganda arms
Modus Operandi: Massacres, arson, ambushes, kidnappings
Tactics: Night-time raids, civilian targeting, destruction of property
The ADF has repeatedly demonstrated its capability to launch complex attacks, frequently targeting vulnerable rural populations and exploiting the Congolese state’s limited control over its eastern provinces.
🗰️ Regional Security Response
The Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have launched joint military operations against the ADF since 2021. However, despite these operations, the group continues to mount deadly attacks.
According to an AFP tally, the ADF has killed over 150 civilians since July 2025.
These figures expose the limitations of current counterterrorism efforts and raise serious questions about regional coordination, military capacity, and the ability to protect civilian populations.
📉 Humanitarian Fallout & IDP Crisis
Beyond the killings, the funeral attack is expected to trigger a fresh wave of displacement from Lubero and surrounding areas. The UNHCR has repeatedly warned about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in eastern Congo, where 2.8 million people are already displaced.
Reports from the Kivu Security Tracker show a steady rise in ADF-related violence in recent weeks, with displaced communities facing extreme food insecurity, loss of property, and inadequate access to health services.
Church groups, such as CARITAS Congo, and international NGOs have launched emergency relief appeals; however, access to rural conflict zones remains severely limited.
🕵️♂️ Jihadist Threat in Eastern DRC: A Persistent Challenge
The latest massacre comes after a short-lived lull in violence. North Kivu and Ituri had experienced relative calm for several months. However, the recent surge in attacks in July, August, and now September has shattered hopes of sustained peace.
The geographical terrain of the region — dense forests, porous borders, and rugged mountains — has favoured guerrilla-style insurgencies like ADF. Moreover, the absence of a strong state presence has allowed such groups to thrive.
Islamic State, via its Amaq News Agency, has previously claimed responsibility for ADF attacks.
🔭 Outlook
Short-Term (0–3 Months):
The FARDC and UPDF are likely to ramp up aerial surveillance in Lubero and Beni.
Surge in displacement across North Kivu; humanitarian corridor requests may increase.
ADF may retaliate further if cornered, raising the risk of more civilian massacres.
Medium-Term (3–12 Months):
Regional leaders may expand the Joint Operations Mechanism into South Sudan and Rwanda.
Enhanced pressure from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC).
Jihadist propaganda networks may leverage the incident to attract recruits in Uganda and Mozambique.
Long-Term (1 Year+):
Islamic State’s foothold in the Great Lakes region is likely to deepen.
Civil-military relations in eastern DRC may worsen if state actors fail to protect civilians.
Successful containment will depend on socioeconomic investment, demobilisation programs, and improved intelligence coordination among AU states.
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