Mambasa

Mambasa is a territory located in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is situated approximately 148 km from the provincial capital and lies on the national road leading to Kisangani. Mambasa is newsworthy due to a surge in attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group of Ugandan origin affiliated with the Islamic State. These attacks have intensified in recent weeks, targeting villages within the territory. Recent events include a deadly assault in late March that resulted in at least 43 deaths and the abduction of dozens, possibly hundreds, of civilians from multiple villages west of Bunia. Earlier in March, two successive attacks in Mambasa led to a mass displacement of the population towards Bafwasende and Kisangani. The ongoing violence highlights the ADF's increasing activity in the region and the resulting humanitarian crisis, forcing thousands to flee their homes and creating widespread trauma among the affected communities.