More than 40 people, including women and children, were brutally killed during a night vigil at a church in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), according to the United Nations and Congolese military authorities.
The massacre took place in the town of Komanda, located in the volatile and mineral-rich Ituri province, an area that has been plagued by armed violence for years. According to the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, the victims, 43 in total, included 19 women, 15 men, and nine children. The attack occurred while worshippers were gathered for a religious service on Sunday night.
The assailants, believed to be ADF fighters, reportedly stormed the church armed with machetes and set fire to surrounding shops and businesses, looting them before destroying the properties. Witnesses and local authorities described a scene of horror as attackers slaughtered unarmed civilians in cold blood.
“These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law,” said Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of MONUSCO.
The Congolese military confirmed that approximately 40 people were killed in what it called a surprise machete attack. “These terrorists have decided to take revenge on defenceless peaceful populations to spread terror,” the army said in a statement.
Lt Jules Ngongo, spokesman for the Congolese army in Ituri province, explained that the attack appeared to be a retaliatory move intended to distract from ongoing joint military operations between the Congolese and Ugandan forces aimed at dismantling the ADF’s network. “We are determined to track these terrorists to their last stronghold,” Lt Ngongo said, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The ADF originated in the 1990s in neighboring Uganda, initially accusing the Ugandan government of marginalizing Muslims. Over time, the group shifted its base to eastern DRC, where it has carried out frequent and brutal attacks against civilians of all religions. In recent years, the ADF has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and now operates under IS’s Central African Province wing, alongside insurgents in Mozambique.
Despite intensified military efforts, including the 2021 decision by DR Congo to allow Ugandan troops on its soil to fight the ADF, the group has continued to perpetrate deadly attacks. Earlier this month, MONUSCO condemned what it described as a “resurgence of violence” after ADF attacks on July 8–9 killed 47 people.
According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of all Islamic State operations worldwide are now carried out by its African affiliates, a troubling shift that highlights the growing influence of jihadist groups on the continent.
As investigations into the Komanda massacre continue, local residents are left to grieve and rebuild, while security forces intensify efforts to end the long-running cycle of violence in the region.
Written By Rodney Mbua
