The UN has expressed shock over the killing of 17 civilians inside a Catholic Church-run health centre in eastern DR Congo, describing the incident as one of the most appalling attacks linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Victims included women in labour and patients receiving medical care when four wards were deliberately set ablaze during the assault in Byambwe, a remote community west of Lubero.
The attack formed part of coordinated violence carried out between November 13 and 19 across several localities of Lubero Territory. UN human rights staff from MONUSCO reported that 89 civilians were killed in total, including at least 20 women and an unspecified number of children, as assaults spread to Mabiango, Tunarudi, Sambalysa, Thucha and Butsili. Abductions, destruction of homes and the looting of medical supplies were also recorded.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the details emerging from the field were “truly horrific,” stressing that targeting civilians and medical facilities may constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. The UN extended condolences to affected communities and reaffirmed its support for ongoing protection efforts in DR Congo.
MONUSCO urged Congolese authorities to launch independent investigations to identify perpetrators and bring them to justice. The mission also renewed its appeal for armed groups to disarm immediately and for regional actors to intensify cooperation.
Dujarric warned that atrocities in DR Congo often occur far from global attention and insisted that accountability is essential to halting repeated cycles of violence. The ADF, an armed group with roots in Uganda, has operated in the region for decades.
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