Alleged Islamist militants have killed 26 people with machetes in an overnight attack in the town of Oicha in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to reports by the mayor and the army on Tuesday, October 24.
They both have attributed the killings to the Allied Democratic Forces, ADF, a group initially established in Uganda, now based in eastern Congo, which has vowed allegiance to the Islamic State militant group and carries out frequent attacks.
Antony Mwalushayi, the Local army spokesperson had said that the attack against civilians in Oicha was thought to be a retaliation for the recent army strikes against the ADF.
The attackers committed the slaughter with machetes instead of guns, so as not to alert nearby troops, according to Mwalushayi.
The army had received a tip-off ahead of the attack saying that the insurgents they had bombed in the Tingwe forest would be coming to Oicha to take revenge, Mwalushayi stated during a press briefing in the town.
The attack took place around 11 p.m. (21:00 GMT) on Monday, October 23, according to Nicolas Kikuku, the mayor of Oicha, located in North Kivu province. Four people were reported wounded and have been taken to hospital in addition to the 26 killed.
Food distributions by the U.N. Food Programme have been suspended and will resume once the security situation has been assessed.
Uganda and Congo had both launched a joint military operation two years ago to try to get rid of the ADF.
Uganda’s army had only last month said that it had killed over 560 fighters (Islamists) and destroyed some of their settlements .
