At least 40 people were killed after Allied Democratic Forces militants attacked villages in eastern Congo near the Uganda border, according to an AP report citing local civil society leaders.

The killings matter because they underline the continued threat posed by the ADF, an Islamic State-affiliated armed group with roots in Uganda that has operated for years across Congo’s eastern border region.

Local sources said 25 people were killed in Beni territory in North Kivu, while 15 others died in Ituri province. Homes were also reportedly burned and looted, and the toll could rise because several residents remained missing.

The attack comes days after Amnesty International accused the ADF of abuses against civilians that it said may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Eastern Congo remains under pressure from multiple armed groups, including the ADF and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellion. Previous ADF attacks have caused heavy civilian casualties, including a July 2025 assault in which 66 people were killed, according to AP-linked reporting.

The latest killings add to concerns over civilian protection in border communities where local authorities and residents continue to face recurring attacks, displacement and insecurity.