Is-bound rebels accused of killing more than 50

Rebels related to the Islamic State (IS) group have killed more than 50 people at a funeral ceremony in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said.

Most of the victims were hacked with a machete in the night attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in a village in North Kivu province, officials added.

This is the latest in a series of ADF attacks, causing fears that its rebels are growing in force.

ADF appeared in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there for pursuit of Muslims. It is now based on the border in Congo and attacks in both sides.

“I can confirm a temporary death of 50. The victims were caught on a mourning ceremony in the village of Noto,” Maker Sivicunula, a local administrator, was quoted, quoted by Reuters news agency.

The spokesman for the Congo Army Lieutenant Mark Elongo said the ADF fighters “had already done the slaughter” at the time when the soldiers intervened during the attack on Monday night, Reuters reported.

ADF has not yet commented, but the Central African province of the Islamic State to which the group is linked, confirmed the attack.

It says more than 100 people were killed.

A local private television operator, Mishapi Voice Radio, gave a similar number of death, quoting witnesses, saying that there is a “full carnage” in the village, with some people also burned in their homes.

More than 40 people, including nine children, were killed in an attack by ADF fighters in the Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo in July, the UN and the military said at that time.

Most of them were worshipers participating in a night vigil in a church in the town of command when they were attacked.

According to BBC monitoring studies, nearly 90% of IS operations are now performed by branches in Africa.