Photo: SEBASTIEN KITSA MUSAYI / AFP / Getty Images
Islamist terrorists killed 49 Christians during a church service in Komanda, a town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The attack was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with the Islamic State. The victims, including nine children, were attending a night vigil when the attackers stormed the church, using machetes to kill those inside.
The ADF, originally from Uganda, has been active in the DRC, targeting civilians and spreading terror. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, including from Pope Leo XIV, who expressed deep sorrow and called for peace and reconciliation among the Congolese people. The United Nations’ Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) also condemned the attack, highlighting the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Eyewitnesses described the horror of the attack, noting that the attackers killed those trying to flee and set nearby homes on fire. The victims were buried in a mass grave, with the U.N. providing equipment for the burial process. The attack is part of a series of violent incidents in the region, with the ADF aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate in the predominantly Christian country.
The international community, including the U.S. State Department, has condemned the attack and emphasized the need for urgent action to address the escalating violence in the region. The DRC government, in collaboration with Ugandan forces, continues efforts to combat the ADF, but challenges remain in ensuring the safety of civilians in rural areas.