Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): MONUSCO withdraws

With the withdrawal of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) already initiated (TeleSUR, 20 June 2023), the security of civilians in eastern DRC is threatened even more as attacks continue unabated. On 8 June 2023, ADF militants killed 12 civilians in an attack on the village of Bukokoma, in North Kivu province's Beni territory, according to VOA reporting on 9 June 2023. Local sources told how the militants “were opening doors and decapitating people with hatchets and machetes”. On 11 June 2023, CODECO militants executed 11 civilians in eastern DRC, including children, when they attacked an army position in Djukoth in Mahagi territory in Ituri province, as reported by Monitor on 12 June 2023.

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “With the absence of international peacekeeping forces, the vulnerability of Christian civilians is only likely to worsen. Despite the military offensive against militants in the region led by Uganda, the ADF has continued to carry out targeted attacks on Christian civilians, furthering its agenda of importing radical Islam. Christians in the region have been specifically singled out, killed, abducted, and many villages have been burned down.  The ADF's ability to carry out such acts of violence is facilitated by the already volatile political conditions in the region. Various rebel groups, among them CODECO, as well as national and foreign powers, operate within the area, creating a complex and challenging security landscape. This situation provides a conducive environment for the ADF to thrive and act with impunity. Comprehensive efforts, including international cooperation, robust security measures, and action addressing the root causes of the conflict, are necessary to curtail the influence and activities of the ADF and other militant groups. Without UN peacekeepers to accompany that process, it will be difficult to create a secure environment where Christians and other vulnerable populations can live without fear of violence and persecution.”