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Amnesty Accuses ISIS-Linked ADF of War Crimes in Eastern Congo

The report points to slow security responses that leave villages exposed.

Amnesty accuses Congolese rebel group of ‘extensive brutality’
MBAOU, BENI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO - APRIL 06: Georgette Ndovya Kavugho, 32, poses for a portrait on April 6, 2021 in Mbaou, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Georgette Ndovya Kavugho was attacked by members of the ADF Islamist group in her home on the 16th of November 2019. They struck her with machetes, leaving deep cuts in the flesh of her arms and back, eventually leaving her for dead as they continued to ransack her village. 13 people died that night, and many others were abducted. “At around 1am I heard a woman’s voice shout, “break down that door,” said Georgette, “it was because one of my young children cried out in fear that they knew we were there. When asked why the ADF did this to her, Georgette says she has no idea. She lost the use of her right arm in the attack and shortly after, her husband left her, saying she was useless. He left her with 8 children to care for. She is trying to save money for a sewing machine with pedals so she can make a living for them. For Georgette and her children, one of the worst things is that ADF has stepped up their attacks against civilians recently and they remain as vulnerable as ever. The ADF is an Islamic terror group based out of Eastern DR Congo that, in recent years, has developed a relationship with the Islamic State after pledging allegiance to ISIS leadership. They are known locally as ISIS in Congo. ADF have killed over 5000 Congolese civilians in recent years, abducted and displaced thousands and killed over 2500 Congolese Army Soldiers. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Amnesty International released a report accusing the Allied Democratic Forces of mass war crimes and crimes against humanity in eastern Congo.
  • The group urges the government and the UN to strengthen early warning and rapid response, with witnesses saying troops often arrived late or not at all.
  • Investigators interviewed 71 people in North Kivu and recorded 46 abductions involving ransom, torture, sexual slavery, forced labour, and coerced conversions.
  • The report details a September 2025 massacre in Ntoyo that killed more than 60 people and a later attack in Byambwe that killed at least 17 and burned hospital wards.
  • The ADF, which operates near the Ugandan border and pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2019, has taken advantage of focus on the separate M23 rebellion, driving displacement and cutting access to healthcare, food, and schooling.