Five people died in an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that the Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for, according to a US-based intelligence group, SITE.
The attack took place in the Tshopo province, where IS fighters reportedly shot at a militia post, killing three personnel, and then turned their weapons on Christians in the village, resulting in two more deaths.
The attackers also set fire to over 50 houses.
This incident marks the first time the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has carried out operations in the Tshopo area.
IS has also linked itself with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group originally composed of Ugandan rebels, which has established a presence in eastern DR Congo over the past 30 years, and has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
The ADF pledged allegiance to IS in 2019, and since then, IS has claimed responsibility for several ADF attacks, referring to the ADF as its regional affiliate.
Despite joint operations by the Congolese and Ugandan armies since late 2021 aimed at combating the ADF in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, these efforts have not succeeded in halting the ongoing deadly attacks on civilians.
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face multiple conflicts, especially in its eastern regions, where numerous armed groups from both the DRC and neighbouring countries have been active for the past three decades.