Incident Summary:

07/16/2020: Assailants attacked Kalulu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were an unknown number of casualties and missing people in the attack. This was one of at least five attacks in this area on this date. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources attributed the attack to the Ngumino militia, Twigwaneho militia, National Liberation Front (FNL) (Burundi), and the Resistance to the Rule of Law in Burundi (Red-Tabara).

GTD ID:
202007160008

When:
2020-07-16

Country:
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

South Kivu

City:
Kalulu

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Kalulu Village
Specific Description Village
Nationality of Target Democratic Republic of the Congo
Target Type: Terrorists/Non-state Militia
Name of Entity Mai Mai Simba Militia
Specific Description Members
Nationality of Target Democratic Republic of the Congo
Additional Information
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) No
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Intra/Inter-group Conflict
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. The attack may have been the result of conflict between rival groups. Sources also attributed the attack to the Resistance to the Rule of Law in Burundi (Red-Tabara). Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here. Casualty numbers represent a division of the total number of those killed and wounded across incidents 202007160008, 202007160009, 202007160010, 202007160011, and 202007160012.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
National Liberation Front (FNL) (Burundi) No
Ngumino militia No
Twigwaneho militia No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties Unknown
Total Number of Fatalities Unknown
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Over 220 civilians killed in eastern DR Congo last week," Anadolu Agency (AA), July 21, 2020.
"Fighting between armed groups in eastern Congo kills dozens," ABC News, July 18, 2020.
"Ten killed in rebel clashes in DR Congo's Sud Kivu," Radio Okapi (Goma), July 17, 2020.