African Union slams mass killing in eastern DR Congo

The African Union has condemned the killing of at least 71 civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after suspected Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, rebels attacked the village of Ntoyo in North Kivu Province, urging that the perpetrators be identified and held accountable to end the cycle of impunity.

The victims were caught unawares on Tuesday night while attending a funeral in the Bapere sector, an area plagued by armed group activity.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the chairperson of the AU Commission, expressed "deep shock" at the killings, describing them as "a heinous terrorist attack".

"Such acts constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights," Youssouf said.

Survivors described scenes of devastation as homes were set ablaze and families targeted indiscriminately.

A survivor told The Associated Press that about 10 people who carried machetes told people to gather in one place before starting to kill them indiscriminately. "I listened to people screaming and I fainted," the survivor, who requested anonymity, said.

The ADF, a Ugandan-origin armed group, has entrenched itself in eastern DR Congo and across the border in Uganda, where it has repeatedly carried out massacres, mass displacements and kidnappings of civilians, earlier reports indicated. It often targets rural communities with little state protection.

The Ntoyo attack is one of the deadliest to have happened this year, highlighting the fragility of security efforts despite international support and the deployment of regional stabilization forces.

In July, the rebels launched two large-scale attacks in Ituri Province, a church attack, killing at least 34 in Komanda. An earlier attack saw the killing of 66 people in Irumu.

Youssouf, however, reaffirmed AU's commitment to support national, regional and international initiatives aimed at restoring peace, security and stability in the Great Lakes region. The AU has been working closely with the East African Community and the United Nations to support ongoing stabilization efforts.

Eastern DR Congo has been the epicenter of recurring violence involving more than 120 armed groups, many competing for control of minerals, territory or political influence.

The UN estimates that over 7 million people are currently displaced across the DR Congo, the highest number in the country's history.