Militants from the Islamic State-affiliated Alliance for Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group attacked a hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday night, killing at least 20 civilians, mostly hospitalized patients.
According to local sources and Xinhua News Agency, the attack took place in the village of Byambwe, located in the Lobro territory of North Kivu province.
ADF rebels burned down several sections of the hospital, looted medical equipment, and brutally attacked patients and medical staff.
Congolese army commander General Max Arduff put the death toll at at least 17, while local sources and the Catholic Church, which runs the hospital, confirmed the figure of 20.
The group has been established in Congo since the late 1990s and has intensified its attacks since 2021, despite joint operations by the Congolese and Ugandan armies.
The attack comes as religious preachers have criticized the international community’s shameful silence on these crimes and called for immediate action.
