Dozens Slain as Rebels Storm Congo Church
Death toll climbs after brutal attack in Ituri province
Islamic State-backed rebels have killed at least 34 people in a pre-dawn assault on a Catholic church in eastern Congo. The ongoing violence highlights the persistent threat posed by armed groups in the volatile region.
Grim Scene Unfolds in Komanda
Bodies of the victims remained at the church in Komanda town following the attack, which occurred around 1 a.m. Volunteers are preparing a mass burial site within the church compound, according to civil society coordinator **Dieudonne Duranthabo**. Several houses and shops were also set ablaze during the raid.
The Allied Democratic Force (ADF), armed with guns and machetes, is suspected of carrying out the assault. The military has confirmed at least 10 deaths from the church attack, though local media reports suggest a higher number, potentially exceeding 40. A UN-backed radio station, citing security sources, reported 43 fatalities.
Additional Violence Reported
In a separate incident, at least five people were killed in an earlier attack on the nearby village of Machongani. A search is underway for several individuals abducted by the assailants and taken into the bush; their destination and number remain unknown, stated **Lossa Dhekana**, another civil society leader in Ituri.
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Eastern Congo continues to be plagued by deadly attacks from various armed factions, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed rebels. The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, operates along the Uganda-Congo border and frequently targets civilians. Earlier this month, the group was responsible for the deaths of dozens in Ituri, an event described by a UN spokesperson as a “bloodbath.” The ADF, originating from Ugandan groups in the late 1990s, relocated its operations to Congo in 2002 and has since been implicated in thousands of civilian deaths.
The Congolese armed forces have struggled to contain the rebel group, particularly amidst renewed hostilities with the Rwanda-backed M23 movement. The U.S. Department of State’s 2022 report on terrorism noted that the ADF had claimed responsibility for attacks resulting in over 500 civilian deaths in 2021 alone, underscoring the scale of the crisis.