DR Congo: 14 civilians, 4 soldiers killed by ADF rebels

By Godfrey Olukya  

ARU, Democratic Republic of Congo

At least 18 people were killed -- most of them civilians -- and over 20 wounded in an attack by suspected ADF rebels last night in the restive eastern city of Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Suspected ADF rebels attacked our position located at Kasinga near the Rwenzori commune last night,” Lt. Boniface Lukiro told reporters.

“The army responded and fighting took place until late into the night. It has been established that 14 civilians and four soldiers were killed while four ADF rebels also died.”

He added that the rebels also looted several shops in the area.

He said that after the army got reinforcements, the rebels fled towards the neighboring village of Mpunda where they found that the villagers had fled. He said that the army is pursuing the rebels.

ADF rebels originated in Uganda in the 1990s where they attempted to overthrow the government but were overpowered by the Ugandan army and fled into the jungles of Democratic Republic of Congo from where they attack neighboring villages.