This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On November 25, 2019, a wave of protests swept through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Beni, following an overnight raid by suspected Islamist rebels that left eight people dead.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group believed to be behind the attack, has been operating near the Ugandan border for over two decades, wreaking havoc on civilians and hampering efforts to combat the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
According to reports, the ADF has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the massacre of at least 19 people last week, who were also kidnapped and had a Catholic church torched.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the World Health Organization has expressed concerns that the ongoing insecurity is hindering efforts to stamp out the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed numerous lives.
Security forces have been working to re-establish public order, but the violence by the ADF and other militias has left a trail of destruction and death in its wake.
