• Over 60 civilians killed by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) at a funeral in eastern Congo.
• The attack involved machete and gun violence, with victims caught off guard during the ceremony.
• This assault is the latest in a series of brutal attacks by the ADF in the region.
• Local authorities warn that the death toll may continue to rise as the search for victims proceeds.
• Both Congolese and Ugandan forces have been conducting operations against the ADF following these attacks.

In a harrowing attack on Monday night, at least 60 people attending a funeral in the village of Ntoyo, North Kivu province, were killed by members of the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The victims were reportedly caught off guard as they participated in the mourning ceremony, with many being slaughtered using machetes, while others were shot, according to local administrator Macaire Sivikunula and Colonel Alain Kiwewa.

The attack signifies the escalating violence in the mineral-rich eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the ADF has taken advantage of a security vacuum. Local officials indicated that the death toll might rise further, as search operations for additional victims continue, reflecting the turbulent conditions in the area. This attack is part of a disturbing trend, with the country recently witnessing a surge in civilian-targeted violence perpetrated by the ADF, echoing reports from multiple sources about the severity of the situation according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Africa News.

Following the funeral attack, additional ADF assaults led to the deaths of at least 18 more individuals in a separate incident in the Beni territory. The ADF's recent activities highlight a growing pattern of horrific violence targeting civilians in the region, as armed operations have been on the rise since the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019. The Congolese government is currently collaborating with Uganda to conduct joint military operations against the ADF, but the effectiveness of these efforts remains in question as violence persists unabated, as analyzed by Al Jazeera, BBC, CBS News, South China Morning Post, and Africa News.