20 Killed in Militant Attack in Congo

At least 20 people were killed in an attack carried out by an armed group on a village in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the army said on Monday, in the latest violence to hit the conflict-scarred region.

Colonel Alain Kiywa Metila said the assault took place early on Saturday and targeted the village of Mambimbi-Isigo in the Lubero territory of North Kivu. He said the attack triggered a wave of displacement among residents and further worsened an already fragile humanitarian situation.

Metila said the violence caused widespread panic among civilians, many of whom fled their homes to seek safety in nearby areas.

Local human rights activists said the attackers first assaulted farmers working in nearby fields before launching a broader attack on civilians inside the village, using knives and firearms.

Kinos Kitwa, head of civil society in the Babir area, said the death toll remains provisional, warning that several civilians are still missing and the number of victims could rise.

Eastern Congo has been plagued by persistent insecurity driven by the presence of multiple armed groups, with repeated attacks on civilians deepening humanitarian needs and fueling displacement across the region.