news 2 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
ADF Rebels Slaughter 43 Civilians in DR Congo's Bafwakao Village Raid
Suspected ADF rebels killed at least 43 civilians in Bafwakao village, Ituri Province, eastern DR Congo, burning 44 houses, a dump truck, and five motorcycles during a nighttime assault. FARDC has condemned the attack and intensified operations, amid criticism from locals over delayed response. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/adf-rebels-kill-43-in-dr-congo-village-attack-5411956
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels launched a brutal attack on Bafwakao village in Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The assault unfolded from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, claiming at least 43 civilian lives.
Bafwakao serves as the administrative center of its groupement, situated along National Road Number 4, roughly 148 km from Mambasa toward Kisangani. FARDC spokesperson Lieutenant Jules Ngongo Tshikudi confirmed the death toll and reported extensive destruction, including 44 houses, one dump truck, and five motorcycles set ablaze.
Ngongo denounced the ‘barbaric acts’ as violations of human dignity, assuring residents that security forces are bolstering protections and pursuing ADF networks aggressively. Yet, local civil society leader Yuma Mungeni faulted the military for arriving two hours after the 5:00 PM onset.
Resident Jospin Paluku Mbowa voiced fears over the rebels’ unchecked movements, demanding swift action. This incident follows a spike in ADF violence, including a March 2026 assault on Muchacha gold mine that killed 50.
Since October 2025, ADF has slain over 260 and displaced thousands across Ituri, North Kivu, and Tshopo, per UN Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al-Nashif. Originating as a Ugandan group in 1995, ADF pledged loyalty to Islamic State in 2017 and is labeled a terrorist outfit by Uganda and the US.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)