Civil Society Urges Action After ADF Hostage Alert in Mambasa

Civil society in Mambasa has called for urgent security action after Actualité.cd reported that several civilians were taken hostage by ADF fighters on Friday, May 1, in Lisoma, a locality in Babila-Bakwanza chiefdom, Ituri province. The exact number of captives remains unknown, according to the report.

The alert was confirmed by Rams Malikidogo, a member of APDEF Mambasa, who said the incident reflects continuing pressure on civilians in an area repeatedly affected by armed violence.

The reported abduction comes after a series of ADF-linked attacks in Mambasa territory, including an April assault that local reporting said left dozens dead and homes burned.

MONUSCO says its protection mandate covers areas including Ituri and North Kivu, where armed group violence continues to affect civilians.

The ADF has long been one of the most active armed groups in eastern DR Congo. A previous AP report described the group as Islamic State-linked and noted past hostage rescues involving Congolese and Ugandan forces.

For local civil society, the latest alert adds pressure on authorities and security forces to protect civilians, clarify the number of hostages and pursue rescue efforts where possible.