The Democratic Republic of Congo strongly condemned recent deadly terrorist attacks targeting mining sites in eastern Ituri province.

The latest attack targeted the Muchacha mining site in the Mambasa territory earlier this month.

The government said in a statement on Sunday that it would pursue “negative forces that threaten the security of the population until the complete restoration of full state authority in this part of the territory.”

The attack, which was attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group, left several people dead, caused a fire in the facility and forced the displacement of civilians, according to the government.

Casualties

Local media, citing civil society organisations, said the terrorists killed seven people, abducted dozens, looted property and burnt houses as they fled.

The statement added that the army destroyed several strongholds of the ADF and recovered significant quantities of explosives during recent combat operations in Ituri province, particularly in the Mambasa territory.

Eastern Congo is one of the hotbeds of armed attacks.

Last week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was deeply concerned by the impact of continued violence on civilians in Ituri province.

Historical attacks

Humanitarian partners reported that since early March, clashes in villages surrounding Djugu territory have killed at least 21 people and forced many families to flee, OCHA said.

Since 2021, Ugandan and Congolese forces have been conducting joint operations against the ADF terrorists.

The group, which has been active in eastern Congo for several years, is affiliated with the Daesh terrorist group.

It claimed responsibility on Saturday for the attacks on the mining sites.