Communities in eastern Congo are reeling after two brutal rebel attacks left at least 89 civilians dead, plunging the region into yet another wave of grief and fear.
Authorities confirmed that 71 people were massacred on Monday during a funeral gathering in Nyoto, while 18 more lives were cut short in a separate assault in Beni the following day. Both tragedies struck the North Kivu province, where violence has become a devastating routine.
The attackers, linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group with ties to the Islamic State, have intensified their assaults in recent weeks. Despite ongoing joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces, the rebels continue to strike villages and towns, leaving destruction and trauma in their wake.
The government says it is stepping up efforts to support survivors and restore security, vowing to keep dismantling rebel bases and rescuing hostages. But for many, hope feels fragile.
Analysts warn that while military offensives have weakened the group in some areas, they have also forced fighters to scatter into smaller, unpredictable units. This has created a deadly pattern of surprise attacks on vulnerable communities.
For families burying their loved ones, the violence is not just numbers on a page—it is the loss of mothers, fathers, children, and neighbors. In villages across North Kivu, mourning has become part of daily life.