Expert Comment
Ladd Serwat on ISCAP involvement in deadly eastern DRC attacks
ACLED’s Africa Senior Analyst Ladd Serwat comments on the likely perpetrators behind the 5–7 May attacks near the North Kivu–Ituri border.
Ladd Serwat, Africa Senior Analyst at ACLED, said:
“ACLED analysis suggests that the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) unit under the leadership of Seka Umaru was likely behind the attacks carried out between 5 and 7 May near the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which left at least 39 reported fatalities. Local sources indicate that militants approached from north of Biakato, an area where Umaru’s unit has recently been active.
“ISCAP — known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)— first targeted several agricultural communities, including Katere, Manzumbu, Musangwa, Wasafi, and Mangambo, before carrying out another attack in Biakato town on the Ituri side of the border.
“While fighters from other ISCAP units under Baluku’s leadership have expanded far north into Haut-Uele and Abwakasi’s camp continues intensive civilian targeting in Lubero territory, these attacks further east highlight the persistent threat to civilians in ISCAP’s historic strongholds despite ongoing joint offensives by Congolese and Ugandan military forces.”
For an interview with Ladd Serwat, contact the ACLED press office at [email protected].
