Amnesty International Slams ADF Fighters Over War Crimes in Eastern DR Congo
Amnesty International has accused militants linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) of committing widespread war crimes and crimes against humanity in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in a damning new report released Tuesday.
The London-based rights organization documented a pattern of atrocities committed by the ADF — a group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State — describing their attacks on civilians as ‘rampant’ and systematic.
Systematic Atrocities Documented
Based on testimony from 71 survivors and witnesses collected between October 2025 and February 2026, the report details kidnappings, forced labour, recruitment of child soldiers, and widespread sexual violence committed by ADF fighters across the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
‘These abuses constitute war crimes which the world must not continue to ignore. As part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, they also amount to crimes against humanity,’ said Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard.
The ADF was originally formed by Ugandan rebels who have since pledged allegiance to IS, making it one of the most dangerous militia groups operating in mineral-rich eastern Congo. For three decades, the group has terrorized communities near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda.
Women and Children Bear the Brunt
According to the report, women and girls captured by the ADF are forcibly converted to Islam and handed to militants as sex slaves. The group also uses captured women as a recruiting tool, with families forced to pay ransoms ranging from 100 to 10,000 dollars to secure the release of loved ones.
Amnesty identified the ADF as one of the biggest recruiters of child soldiers in the DRC, where the use of minors in armed conflict remains widespread despite international condemnation.
The group has also been accused of attacking civilian infrastructure, stealing food and medicines, and carrying out reprisal attacks following military operations.
Joint Operations Fail to Stop Violence
Since 2021, the Ugandan army has been deployed in North Kivu and Ituri to assist Congolese forces in fighting the ADF. Despite these joint operations, violence has continued unabated, with the report noting that the ADF remains ‘at large’ across vast swathes of territory.
The international community has faced mounting pressure to act as the humanitarian situation in eastern Congo deteriorates. Thousands of civilians have been displaced, with many trapped between rival militia groups with little access to essential services.
Callamard called on the Congolese government and the international community to prioritize accountability for crimes committed by all armed groups operating in the region.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence documenting atrocities in eastern Congo, where multiple armed groups compete for control of lucrative mineral resources. Human rights groups have long warned that the region risks descending into further chaos without sustained international attention and action.