A new report by Amnesty International has accused the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, of committing widespread war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians, as violence intensifies across the region.
The report, based on interviews with 71 individuals including survivors and witnesses, describes a sustained campaign of killings, abductions, sexual violence, and forced labor, contributing to a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Amnesty International documented multiple attacks across North Kivu and Ituri provinces, with a notable escalation in 2025 as the ADF exploited shifting military focus toward other armed groups.
In September 2025, fighters disguised as mourners attacked a wake in Ntoyo village, killing more than 60 people using firearms and bladed weapons.
Two months later, an attack on a medical facility in Byambwe village left at least 17 civilians dead and several hospital wards burned.
Witnesses reported that security forces often arrived late or failed to respond altogether, exacerbating civilian vulnerability.
“Civilians in the eastern DRC have suffered extensive brutality at the hands of ADF fighters. They have been killed, abducted and tortured in a dehumanising campaign of abuse,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general.
The group’s actions have fueled mass displacement and severely disrupted access to essential services, including healthcare, food, and education.
The report details systematic patterns of abuse, including 46 documented abductions in which victims were subjected to forced labor, sexual slavery, and, in some cases, execution.
Women and girls were frequently forced into marriages with fighters under threat of death, with many subjected to repeated sexual violence and coercion.
Children were also recruited and used in various roles, including as fighters, porters, and informants, often after undergoing forced indoctrination.
Some abductees described being compelled to carry heavy loads over long distances with minimal food while enduring physical abuse.
“They taught us how to kill with weapons and with blades,” said one survivor who spent two years in captivity.
Amnesty International has called on Congolese authorities to strengthen civilian protection measures and improve coordination with international partners, including the United Nations.
The organization also urged sustained international support to address accountability, justice, and long-term recovery for affected communities.
Analysts warn that continued inaction could further entrench instability and deepen the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.