43 Christians slaughtered at church by Islamic militants, bodies burned in DRC

At least 38 Christians were killed and 15 others wounded in a brutal assault early Sunday on a church in Komanda, a city in the Ituri province of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The attackers, believed to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), used guns and machetes during the early-morning raid. The ADF was originally formed by Ugandan rebels who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019.

The victims had gathered at the church, operated by the Catholic charity Caritas, for a prayer vigil when the violence erupted. Human rights activist Christophe Munyanderu, who was present at the site, said, "The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church. Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets," according to Al Jazeera.

UN peacekeeping mission Monusco said that at least 43 people had been killed, of whom 19 were women, 15 were men, and nine were children. The majority were killed with "bladed weapons inside a place of worship," and several people were abducted. Local radio station Radio Okapi noted, “More than 20 victims were killed with bladed weapons during a prayer vigil in a church. Other bodies were found in burned houses nearby.”

Multiple buildings, including homes and shops, were set ablaze during the attack, according to the BBC. Several residents remain missing. According to DRC army spokesperson Jules Ngongo, “There was an incursion by armed men with machetes into a church not far from Komanda.”

Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, told the Associated Press that people were shot both inside and outside the church and that three charred bodies had been found. “The search [for bodies] is continuing,” he said.

“We are truly disappointed because it is incredible that such a situation could occur in a town where all the security officials are present,” Duranthabo added. He said many survivors have fled to the nearby town of Bunia. “We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town.”

The ADF, which operates along the border between Uganda and the DRC, has long been accused of carrying out atrocities against civilians.

In 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to ISIS and since then, its attacks have intensified. The group’s leadership claims to be fighting for the creation of a hardline Islamic government in East Africa.

The Congolese military has faced challenges in combatting the ADF after renewed clashes with the M23 rebel group, which is widely believed to be backed by Rwanda.