Musandaba massacre
Terrorist incident in Democratic Republic of the Congo
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On April 7, 2023, jihadists from the Islamic State – Central Africa Province (ISCAP), also known as the Allied Democratic Forces, attacked the village of Musandaba, Beni Territory, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 26 people.
| Musandaba massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Allied Democratic Forces insurgency of the Kivu conflict | |
| Location | Musandaba, Beni Territory, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Date | April 7, 2023 |
| Target | Christians |
| Deaths | 26 |
| Perpetrator |  Islamic State - Central Africa Province |
Background
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was founded in Uganda in the 1990s, gaining prominence as an Islamist rebel group and conducting deadly attacks on civilians in the early 2010s.[1] The group pledged bay'ah to the Islamic State in 2019 and began carrying out its first attacks under the ISCAP moniker months later.[1] Beginning in 2021, the ADF carried out dozens of deadly massacres against villages in North Kivu, attacking villagers along ethnic and religious lines.[1] Shortly before the massacre in Musandaba, ISCAP militants killed over 30 people in the Mukondi massacre.[2]
Massacre
On the late afternoon of April 7, ISCAP militants entered the town of Musandaba and attacked farmers in their fields. Many were beheaded while working.[3] The assailants used machetes to avoid alerting any nearby Congolese troops.[4][5] Nineteen bodies arrived at the Oicha General Hospital, although at least 22 were reported to be killed in the initial report.[5] On April 11, five new bodies were discovered, bringing the total number of killed to 25.[6] One civilian was killed in Mavete.[7]
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the massacre on April 8, claiming it was targeting "Christians."[2] The Vicar of Babwisi Parish confirmed that several of the victims were Christians.[7]