Recent attacks attributed to an Islamic State-linked militia in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have resulted in the deaths of over 30 individuals, further complicating the ongoing Ebola crisis in the region. The violence, concentrated around the city of Beni in North Kivu province, has not only devastated local communities but has also hindered efforts to control the deadly virus, prompting urgent calls for action.
Militia Attacks Leave Communities in Mourning
In a series of brutal raids earlier this week, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) targeted three villages surrounding Beni, resulting in at least ten confirmed fatalities. Local leaders reported that the ADF, which has been linked to the Islamic State, set fire to homes and stole motorcycles during these incursions. Isaac Kavalami, a community leader, shared, “We have provisionally recorded around 10 deaths. Motorcycles and homes were set alight by the ADF rebels. They also kidnapped civilians, the number of whom is not yet known.”
Witness accounts describe a scene of panic as families fled their homes amidst the chaos. Mumbere Sivya, a resident of Beni’s Ngandi neighbourhood, recounted the harrowing experience: “As we were getting ready for bed, we heard people screaming for help. It was an attack carried out by the ADF. We fled our homes in a panic to save our lives. Unfortunately, in the morning we realised that our neighbours had been beheaded.”
Such attacks have been alarmingly frequent; civil society organisations estimate that around 10,000 civilians have lost their lives to ADF violence since 2014. The group’s reach extends beyond the DRC, with reports of similar atrocities occurring in neighbouring Uganda.
Ebola Crisis Deepens Amidst Violence
The recent escalation of violence comes at a critical juncture as the DRC battles its 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976. As of Wednesday, the country has reported 344 cases and 60 fatalities from the disease across North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri provinces. Compounding the crisis, the military governor of North Kivu announced that three confirmed Ebola patients had fled treatment centres in Beni following the militia’s assaults.
Albert Lusenge, a civil society activist, expressed the dual tragedy facing the community: “Ebola kills, but not by decapitation. We are losing loved ones as a result of the ADF’s atrocities. It is a bitter pill to swallow.” Lusenge has personally experienced the impact of the violence, having lost 20 family members to ADF attacks. He highlighted the difficulties in rallying community support for Ebola containment when the threat of violence looms large.
As civilians flee violence, the risk of Ebola spreading increases. Lusenge remarked, “The disease can spread from one community to another. We saw that after the attack in Ngandi; the residents fled. During the flight, it is difficult to enforce containment measures. If there are people among them carrying the Ebola virus, that is serious.”
Ongoing Military Campaigns and the Humanitarian Toll
Despite ongoing military operations against the ADF, which began anew in 2021, the situation remains precarious. The Congolese and Ugandan armies have collaborated to track down ADF fighters, yet civilian casualties continue to mount. Reagan Miviri, a researcher at Ebuteli, a DRC-based think tank, explained, “The killings of civilians serve as a military deterrent because every time these terrorists are attacked deep within their territory, they respond by massacring civilians.”
The cyclical nature of violence exacerbates the already fragile relationship between local populations and Ebola response teams. Miviri warns that insecurity risks “reawakening the demons” of mistrust towards healthcare providers, a sentiment echoed by the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He noted that addressing the Ebola outbreak is profoundly challenging in a context where community safety is compromised.
Why it Matters
The interplay between sustained violence and public health crises in the DRC underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy that prioritises both security and health. Failure to address the ADF’s brutal tactics not only perpetuates a cycle of violence but also hampers critical efforts to contain and manage the Ebola outbreak. As communities confront the dual threats of militia violence and a deadly virus, the international community must rally to support both immediate security measures and long-term health initiatives. The stakes could not be higher, as the lives of thousands hang in the balance.
