Five Civilians Killed and Homes Burned in New ADF Attack

Mavwe-Mavwe, Lubero, January 22, 2026 - Five civilians were killed and about ten houses burned during an attack by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters on the night of Tuesday, January 21, in the Mwenye region of Lubero territory, North Kivu. The incident occurred in the village of Mavwe-Mavwe, in the Mandelya locality, with four women among the victims. Local authorities reported that the attackers moved freely across the territory, particularly in the Bapere sector and certain areas of the Baswagha chiefdom. In addition to the burned houses and fatalities, other civilians are missing. This assault follows a previous ADF attack on Tuesday, January 13, in which five civilians were killed, two abducted, and several houses set on fire in a village about 17 kilometers west of Masoya, the main town of the Mwenye group. Shortly before that, ADF fighters struck the village of Byambwe, the main town of the Manzia group, located along the Butembo-Manguredjipa road in the Baswagha chiefdom. Furthermore, the bodies of six civilians killed by ADF rebels on Friday, January 16, were recovered and buried the following Monday in Pokia, a village in Tombolea, Bapakombe group, Bapere sector, also in Lubero territory. These repeated attacks underscore the ongoing insecurity and vulnerability of civilians in North Kivu, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened protection measures in the region.