By Erikas Mwisi Kambale
BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 26 people in an attack in the town of Oicha in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday night, the mayor said on Tuesday.
He attributed the killings to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan armed group based in eastern Congo which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and launches frequent attacks.
The attack took place around 11:00 pm local time (2100 GMT), said Nicolas Kikuku, the mayor of Oicha, which is in North Kivu province. Four people were wounded and taken to hospital, he said.
“It’s sad because this time there was no warning,” said local activist Janvier Kasereka Kasayirio, who confirmed the attack and also blamed the ADF.
Uganda and Congo launched a joint military operation two years ago to try to root out the insurgents. Uganda’s army said last month it had succeeded in killing more than 560 fighters and destroying some of their camps.
(Reporting by Erikas Mwisi Kambale; Writing by Nellie Peyton, editing by Ed Osmond)
