DRC: Militants attack UN base in North Kivu December 7

Event

UN officials reported a significant assault on a MONUSCO base near Beni, North Kivu province, on the night of Thursday, December 7. According to initial reports, at least 14 soldiers were killed and over 40 wounded during the attack, mainly from the Tanzanian contingent of the peacekeeping force. At least five Congolese soldiers also died during the fighting. Local media sources blamed the rebel Allied Democratic Forces for the attack.

Context

According to the UN, the December 7 assault is the deadliest single attack on a UN peacekeeping force in recent history.

Beni has become one of the most violent areas in the DRC. According to the Congo Research Group, a wave of killings - for the most part machete attacks - has resulted in an estimated death toll of over 800 since the current wave of violence began in October 2014; 180,000 people have also been displaced during this period. Most of this violence has been blamed on the ADF, which is based in the Beni region. However, while the ADF is accountable for many of the violent attacks, other militia groups and at times even the military themselves are behind the violence. MONUSCO and government forces regularly conduct operations in a bid to neutralize rebel groups in the area, where violent clashes between various rebel groups and government forces, as well as between rival groups, are common.

Advice

Those present in North Kivu are advised to avoid the Beni region due to significant security risks and to generally monitor the situation.

More generally, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country due to poor security conditions, including the presence of armed groups and a high risk of kidnapping. Professional security advice should be sought prior to travel.