Bangladesh, Jan. 26 -- At least 25 civilians were killed in a brutal attack carried out by militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), according to a local human rights organization. The assault, attributed to the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), underscores the persistent insecurity gripping eastern Congo and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by regional and international efforts to protect civilians amid multiple overlapping conflicts.

The Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), a civil society organization monitoring violence in the region, reported that ADF fighters attacked the village of Apakulu in Ituri province early on the morning of January 25. Accor...