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Congo church At least 21 people were killed on Sunday (July 27, 2025) in an attack on church premises in eastern Congo by Islamic State-backed rebels, according to a civil society leader.
The attack was carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) around 1 a.m. inside the premises of a Catholic church in eastern Congo’s Komanda. Several houses and shops were also burnt.
“More than 21 people were shot dead inside and outside and we have recorded at least three charred bodies and several houses burned. But the search is continuing,” Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komnada, told The Associated Press.
A spokesperson for the Congolese Army in Ituri Province, where Komanda is located, confirmed 10 dead.
In a devastating attack that has shocked the region, at least 21 people were killed and several others injured when Islamic State-backed rebels targeted a church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to local civil society leaders and officials. The incident underscores the growing instability and the deepening humanitarian crisis in a region long plagued by armed conflict.
The Attack: A Place of Worship Turned Into a Battlefield
The assault occurred on Sunday morning, during a packed worship service in a Pentecostal church in the Beni region of North Kivu province, an area known for frequent militant activity. According to eyewitness accounts and local officials, a bomb exploded inside the church, immediately killing several worshippers. Gunfire was also reported as panicked congregants tried to flee.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—an Islamist militant group with known ties to the Islamic State—has been blamed for the attack. ADF has waged a violent insurgency in eastern Congo for years and was officially recognized by ISIS as one of its “central Africa provinces” in 2019. The group has frequently targeted civilians, churches, and aid workers in its brutal campaign.
“They came to kill. They entered during worship and detonated explosives,” said Jean-Paul Kalenga, a local civil society coordinator in Beni. “The floor was covered in blood. It was a massacre.”
Death Toll and Casualties
Authorities confirmed 21 people dead as of the latest reports, with the death toll expected to rise due to the severity of injuries. Dozens more were wounded, some critically, and many are being treated in overwhelmed local clinics.
Emergency responders, assisted by Congolese military units, secured the area and transported victims to nearby hospitals. The explosion not only killed worshippers but also damaged parts of the church structure, scattering debris and leaving behind a chilling scene of destruction.
Government and International Reactions
The DRC government condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terrorism”, and pledged to intensify operations against militant groups in the region. President Félix Tshisekedi called for national mourning and stated that the attack “must not go unpunished.”
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) also issued a statement expressing deep concern and urging the protection of civilians.
“This is a tragic reminder that the people of eastern Congo continue to live under the threat of terror,” said Bintou Keita, hea
e U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa and several humanitarian organizations condemned the violence, reiterating calls for international support in stabilizing the region and addressing the root causes of extremism.
Who Are the ADF Rebels?
The ADF originated in Uganda in the 1990s, initially as an opposition group to President Yoweri Museveni. Over the years, it relocated to eastern Congo and has evolved into one of the region’s most violent insurgent forces. Though it began with a local political agenda, it has increasingly adopted radical Islamist ideology and established links with the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP).
ADF militants are known for their brutal attacks on villages, abductions, and the recruitment of child soldiers. In recent years, the group has carried out bombings, beheadings, and raids on civilians in an effort to destabilize local authorities and expand its influence.
A Region in Crisis
The church bombing is just the latest in a string of violent incidents in eastern DRC, where more than 100 armed groups operate in a state of near-lawlessness. Despite joint military operations by the DRC and Uganda to root out militants, many areas remain insecure.
According to the United Nations, more than 6.9 million people are currently displaced within the DRC—the largest internal displacement crisis in Africa.
Human rights groups are urging the international community to do more to protect civilians, provide humanitarian aid, and support conflict resolution efforts in one of the world’s most neglected crises.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice and Peace
The attack on the church in Beni is a painful reminder of the human cost of extremism and instability in eastern Congo. As families mourn the loss of loved ones and communities reel from yet another tragedy, there is an urgent need for justice, accountability, and meaningful international engagement.
For the people of Beni, Sunday’s attack was not just an act of terror—it was a heartbreaking violation of their faith, their safety, and their hope for peace.
Published – July 27, 2025 03:12 pm IST