Tragic Massacre in Eastern Congo: Over 20 Dead in Suspected Rebel Attack

At least 20 people were killed in a suspected Islamist rebel attack in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) are blamed for the massacre in Mayikengo village, where assailants gathered residents before attacking with firearms and machetes.

(Adds details and context) BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 13 (Reuters) - S uspected Islamist rebels killed over 20 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province on Wednesday, two officials from the local administration said on Thursday.

The attack took place on the village of Mayikengo in Lubero territory. Lubero administrator Alain Kiwewa said a toll of between 20 and 30 had been reported on Thursday morning. He blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group affiliated to the Islamic State that started as a Ugandan insurgency but has operated from the jungles of eastern Congo for almost three decades.

Another local official, sector chief Macaire Sivikunula, said 25 people were killed including six women. He also blamed the ADF. The assailants asked residents to gather in a market for a meeting and then attacked the crowd with fire arms and machetes, Sivikunula said.

The ADF are accused of killing over 80 people

in similar attacks on villages in the same province last week.

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