According to MONUSCO, in the early morning hours of 15 April, a group of unidentified assailants suspected to belong to the Ugandan-based Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group attacked Matiba village, 5 kilometres north east of Mbau in Beni territory.

"My heart is with their souls," stressed Martin Kobler, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC, through a statement issued from the capital, Kinshasa.

“I am deeply shocked by the killings of civilians near Beni. It is absolutely necessary that FARDC [Armed Forces of the DRC] and MONUSCO resume their cooperation. Together it will be possible to avoid a further deterioration of the security situation” declared Kobler.

Photo: MONUSCO/Abel Kavanagh