Fighters tied to Islamic State killed 16 civilians Tuesday night in Mbau village, North Kivu’s Beni territory, a Congolese army spokesperson said Wednesday.
The attack by the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan rebel group that pledged loyalty to ISIS 10 years ago, hit an area already dealing with Ebola cases.
Lt. Marc Elongo said the assault complicates efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health officials have confirmed four Ebola cases nearby: two in Beni city and two in Oicha town.
This was the second deadly ADF attack in days. Over the weekend, the group killed 15 civilians and one soldier in Beni city, the government reported.
Congo’s current Ebola outbreak has reached 344 confirmed cases with 60 deaths, according to WHO data released Wednesday. Cases have also been confirmed across the border in Uganda.
The ADF operates in eastern Congo and remains one of the deadliest armed groups in the region.
