Press release:
DRC: UNJHRO condemns the deadly attack on a Mbuti indigenous people’s camp in Ngadi (Beni) and calls for enhanced protection of vulnerable civilians
Kinshasa, 2 June 2026 – The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo condemns in the strongest possible terms the deadly attack carried out during the night of 30 to 31 May 2026 against a camp of Mbuti indigenous people in Ngadi, in the commune of Ruwenzori, Beni, North Kivu.
According to corroborating reports, this violent attack, carried out by elements of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), claimed the lives of at least seven civilians, including six members of the Mbuti indigenous community, among whom was a woman. The actor and artist Shukrani Nzanzu Mangese, killed alongside several members of his family, is also among the victims. Reports also indicate that several people are missing.
The UNJHRO extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Mbuti indigenous community, which has been severely affected by this tragedy.
This latest attack comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity and targeted abuses in the Beni territory, which exacerbates the multidimensional vulnerability of Indigenous peoples, who are already facing forced displacement from their ancestral lands and natural habitats, as well as limited access to humanitarian assistance.
The UNJHRO recalls that in 2022 the Democratic Republic of the Congo adopted a law on the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Congolese authorities have an obligation to guarantee the safety of all civilians, with particular attention to groups that have historically been marginalized and are especially vulnerable during periods of armed conflict.
More than 300 civilians have been summarily executed by the ADF since the start of the year in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
The UNJHRO urges the authorities to immediately launch an independent, prompt, and impartial investigation into the circumstances of this attack, in order to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. It is also necessary to strengthen the protection of civilians and secure the settlements and living areas of Indigenous Peoples. The UNJHRO also calls for the provision of care and emergency humanitarian assistance to the survivors and families affected by this tragedy.
Finally, the UNJHRO reaffirms its ongoing commitment, alongside the institutions of the Republic and civil society, to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as to the fight against impunity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
**Unofficial translation of the original English text
