At least 19 civilians were killed in a nighttime attack by suspected Islamic State-linked militants in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Monday.

The assault occurred in North Kivu province, an area frequently targeted by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group aligned with Islamic State's Central Africa Province branch.

Witnesses said the assailants wore army-style uniforms, allowing them to enter the village undetected before opening fire on residents. Many of the victims were farmers and traders caught off guard in their homes.

Authorities said security forces were deployed to the area to track the attackers and assist survivors. Several of the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals.

No group has claimed responsibility, but the ADF has carried out several similar attacks in recent months, often targeting civilians in rural communities.

The region has faced persistent insecurity despite joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces aimed at dismantling the ADF's strongholds. Local leaders say the group remains a major threat to peace and stability.

Human rights groups have urged stronger international intervention, warning that the continued spread of ISIS-linked violence in Central Africa risks worsening the humanitarian crisis and displacing thousands more civilians.

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