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Christian worshippers Dozens of people have been killed in an attack by an Islamic State affiliate in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials say.
About 20 of the dead were worshippers taking part in a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were attacked by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters, they say.
Nearby shops and businesses were looted and set on fire.
The ADF emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there of persecuting Muslims, but is now based over the border in DR Congo, where it regularly attacks civilians of all religions, as well as in Uganda.
It has since become part of the Islamic State’s Central African Province, which also includes a group in Mozambique.
According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of IS operations are now carried out by affiliates in Africa.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, told the Associated Press that more bodies could be found after the latest attack.
“More than 21 people were shot dead inside and outside [the church] and we have recorded at least three charred bodies and several houses burned. But the search is continuing.”
Father Aime Lokana Dhego, a local priest, told the AFP news agency: “We have at least 31 dead members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement, with six seriously injured. Some young people were kidnapped, we have no news of them.”
He added that seven other bodies had been found elsewhere in the town.
The UN-sponsored Radio Okapi website put the number of dead at 43.
A spokesperson for the army said he could confirm 10 deaths.
In 2021, DR Congo invited Ugandan troops into the country to help tackle the ADF. Attacks however still continue.
Komanda is in DR Congo’s mineral-rich Ituri province, which has been fought over by various armed groups for many years.
Under the cover of darkness on July 27, 2025, a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, eastern DR Congo, became the scene of a horrific massacre. During a midnight prayer vigil, armed militants stormed the Saint Anuarite Catholic Church, killing 43 worshippers, including 19 women, 15 men, and nine children. The majority were slain with guns and machetes, while surrounding homes and shops were set ablaze and several individuals abducted AP NewsWikipediaReutersUnited Nations PeacekeepingAfricanewsThe South AfricanDeutsche Welle.
Who Laid the Blame?
Perpetrators were identified as fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—a rebel group founded in Uganda in the late 1990s. Having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) in 2019, the ADF operates primarily in the borderlands between Uganda and eastern DR Congo, carrying out brutal attacks targeting civilians, including Christian communities AP NewsAl JazeeraWikipediagenocidewatch.
Initial Reactions: Global Condemnation and Mourning
The United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) swiftly condemned the assault as a severe violation of international humanitarian law, noting that these attacks by ADF represent grave threats to civilian safety and peace in the region United Nations PeacekeepingAfricanews.
Meanwhile, global religious leaders—and even Islamic organizations—voiced solidarity. The Global Imams Council denounced the attack, emphasizing that violence against places of worship affronts core tenets of humanity and urging justice and peace The Star.
A History of Religious Targeting
The Komanda massacre was not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, on February 12, 2025, ADF militants allegedly abducted 70 Christian civilians from the village of Mayba in Lubero territory, North Kivu. The victims were found beheaded in a Protestant church in Kasanga, although the UN mission described reports as still unverified Wikipedia.
Other atrocities include a January 2023 church bombing in Kasindi, North Kivu, which claimed 17 lives, claimed by IS-affiliated ADF forces Wikipedia. These horrific acts contribute to a pattern of religious persecution and terror in eastern DR Congo.
Why Komanda Is Especially Heartbreaking
Sacred Space Violated
A place of worship holds profound spiritual significance. For assailants to slaughter faithful mid‑vigil is more than an attack—it’s a desecration.Children Among the Victims
With nine children among the slain, the human cost is deeply painful, symbolizing the loss of innocence and futures extinguished.Security Failings
Despite a significant security presence, the attackers evaded capture—a stark indictment of the challenges in protecting remote and vulnerable communities AP NewsAl JazeeraWikipediaReutersThe Times of India.Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies
Attacks like Komanda fuel regional insecurity, creating dwindling safe zones, mass displacement, and escalating humanitarian needs.
Voices from the Ground
Survivors and locals described a scene of chaos—worshippers fleeing amid gunfire, homes engulfed in flames, and charred bodies strewn around. Some young members of the Eucharistic Crusade, a Catholic youth group, formed a disproportionately large share of the victims NewsweekThe South African.
The Road Ahead: Healing Amid Danger
Strengthening Security
Preventing similar tragedies hinges on better protection for remote communities—through stronger military deployment, predictive intelligence, and community defense systems.Justice and Accountability
The international community must urge DR Congo’s government to investigate and prosecute, while MONUSCO can support in investigations and protection United Nations PeacekeepingAl Jazeera.Support for Survivors
Victims and their families require mental health care, financial support, and safe resettlement.Religious and Interfaith Solidarity
Solidarity across religious lines helps humanize victims—raising global awareness and limiting normalization of such religiously motivated violence.
Conclusion
The tragedy in Komanda is a chilling reminder of the brutality religious minorities face in conflict zones. Those gathered not for politics or protest, but prayer, lost their lives in what should have been a sanctuary.
As we mourn the 43 victims—including women, men, and children—we must not let this massacre fade into obscurity. It calls for action—from better security and justice mechanisms to amplified interfaith support and humanitarian outreach.
May their memory inspire action, and may peace—not fear—prevail in DR Congo’s places of worship and beyond.