Amnesty International details surge in ADF war crimes in eastern DRC
Updated
Updated · ReliefWeb · May 5
Amnesty International details surge in ADF war crimes in eastern DRC
8 articles · Updated · ReliefWeb · May 5
The report, based on 71 interviews in North Kivu, documented eight attacks in Ituri and North Kivu, including a September 2025 assault in Ntoyo that killed more than 60 people.
Amnesty said ADF abuses included 46 abductions, child recruitment, forced labour, sexual slavery and attacks on health facilities, worsening displacement and disrupting food, healthcare and education.
It said the Islamic State-linked group exploited attention on M23 advances and troop diversion, while urging Congolese authorities, MONUSCO and international partners to improve civilian protection, justice and survivor reintegration.
As military operations intensify in the DRC, why is the civilian displacement crisis reaching unprecedented new levels?
With clear evidence of war crimes, what prevents ADF commanders from facing justice at the International Criminal Court?
With US sanctions on Rwanda, why is a rebel-controlled mine now a strategic asset for American investment?
The Human Cost of ADF Violence: 1,000+ Civilians Killed and Mass Displacement in Eastern Congo
Overview
From late 2025 to early 2026, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) intensified brutal attacks across eastern DRC, exploiting a security vacuum created when the Congolese army redeployed to counter the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellion. This vacuum allowed the ADF to reclaim territory and carry out massacres, including the killing of dozens of civilians in Bafwakoa and other areas. Regional rivalries between Uganda and Rwanda fueled the conflict, with Uganda launching Operation Shujaa against the ADF, which triggered violent reprisals. Weak state security, limited coordination among forces, and illicit resource exploitation further sustained the violence. The result is a devastating humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement, sexual violence, child recruitment, and collapsed services, with international efforts struggling to deliver lasting peace or protection.