Rebels kill 15, torch houses, trucks in DR Congo

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – At least 15 civilians were killed, while nine houses and five trucks were set ablaze in a fresh attack reportedly by Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, local authorities said on Monday.

The attack took place late Sunday in Bulongo town in Beni territory, the town’s local leader Kahindo Katembo told reporters, adding that several other civilians are missing.

Most of the victims were led from their homes by the attackers before being executed, while the vehicles set ablaze were heading to Beni from Kasindi area, he said.

The latest incident brings the death toll from the weekend attacks in the area to 36.

Earlier on Saturday, 21 civilians were killed by suspected ADF rebels in the village of Beu-Manyama, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the town of Mamove in Beni territory.

Kinos Katuho, the head of Mamove civil society group, said nine houses and a health center were burnt down during Sunday’s attack.

Captain Antony Mualushayi, a spokesman for the army in the area, confirmed the attacks, saying the military pursued the insurgents and killed seven of them.

Since last May, the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have been under "siege" where senior civilian officials in the state were replaced with army officers in a bid to curb the growing insecurity.

Last year, the Congolese president authorized the Ugandan army to hunt down the ADF rebels in Beni and Irumu territories, but the joint operations are yet to curb the violence.