02 May 2019 | 11:34 PM UTC
DRC: ADF rebels kill one person in Ituri province May 1
Six killed in Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attack on Tshabi village (Ituri province) May 1; heightened security presence likely over the coming days
Event
Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed one soldier and looted 100 cattle in an attack on Tshabi village (Ituri province) on Wednesday, May 1. The fighting also left five rebels dead. A traditional chief in the area expressed fears that 30 villagers were also kidnapped by the rebels. According to military sources, this attack was the first known ADF incursion in the area.
A heightened security presence is to be expected in the area over the coming days. Similar ADF attacks are possible in Ituri province over the coming weeks.
Context
Attacks in Ituri province have usually been attributed to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), but this latest attack may demonstrate the ADF's growing sphere of influence. The ADF is a Ugandan Islamist militant group that has traditionally been active in North Kivu province since the late 1990s.
Advice
Individuals in Ituri province are advised to remain vigilant, monitor developments to the situation, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.
