DRC: Attack by suspected militants kills at least 11 people in Kisima, North Kivu, Feb. 23 /update 1

Event

Militiamen believed to be affiliated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 11 people in a Feb. 23 attack on the village of Kisima, located on the Beni-Kasindi road in North Kivu Province. Initial reports indicate that the majority of the victims were farmers and the attacks have been carried out to restrict access to farmland.

Context

The threat of militant violence remains high in eastern areas of the DRC. Aside from the ADF, a number of armed groups operate in the eastern and central regions. These groups typically target military personnel, ammunition depots, political parties, and private citizens and ambush passenger and private vehicles on major roads. In some instances, hand grenades, mines, and other explosive devices have been reconfigured into improvised explosive devices in combat areas. The threat of incidental violence to foreign travelers in the affected areas is high. This latest incident follows an attack on a UN convoy near Goma in which the Italian ambassador to the DRC was killed Feb. 22; however, these incidents are unlikely to be connected.