38 Killed in Church Attack in Eastern DRC By Suspected ADF Rebels

At least 38 people have been killed and 15 injured in a brutal attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The assault, carried out by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, occurred early Sunday during a prayer vigil organized by the Caritas charity.

Armed with guns and machetes, the attackers stormed the church, where Christian worshippers had gathered overnight for spiritual reflection. Many victims were hacked to death or shot, while others perished in nearby homes that were set ablaze during the raid.

Church Massacre: Victims Targeted During Prayer Vigil

Eyewitnesses and local officials confirmed that the assault specifically targeted civilians seeking refuge in the church.

“The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church,” said Christophe Munyanderu, a human rights activist who visited the scene. “Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets.”

Radio Okapi, a trusted news source in the DRC, reported a higher death toll of 43, attributing the massacre to the ADF. According to the report, more than 20 victims were killed with bladed weapons inside the church, while additional bodies, some severely burned, were discovered in nearby homes.

DRC army spokesperson Jules Ngongo confirmed the incursion: “What we know this morning is that there was an incursion by armed men with machetes into a church not far from Komanda.”

Widespread Destruction and Panic in Komanda

In addition to the church attack, several houses and shops were burned down, leaving families displaced and entire neighborhoods in ruins. A civil society leader speaking to The Associated Press said that at least three charred bodies were recovered from the wreckage.

Many survivors fled the violence, relocating to Bunia, a larger town in Ituri province. “We are truly disappointed because it is incredible that such a situation could occur in a town where all the security officials are present,” said Duranthabo, a local community leader. “We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town.”

ADF Rebels: Links to ISIS and a History of Violence

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), believed responsible for the attack, is a notorious rebel group with ties to the Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS). Originally formed in Uganda in the late 1990s in opposition to President Yoweri Museveni’s government, the ADF relocated to eastern DRC in 2002 after being targeted by Ugandan military forces.

Since then, the group has been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths across eastern DRC. In 2019, the ADF officially pledged allegiance to ISIS, leading the United Nations to designate it as an international terrorist organization.

The ADF claims to be fighting to establish a hardline Islamic state in East Africa, but its actions have largely focused on targeting civilians, churches, and villages through brutal raids involving beheadings, mass killings, and arson.

UN Condemns Surge in Violence in Ituri Province

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has strongly condemned the recent spike in violence in Ituri. Earlier this month, the ADF carried out another deadly assault in the region, which a UN spokesperson described as a “bloodbath.”

Despite the presence of MONUSCO peacekeepers and ongoing military operations, the DRC government continues to struggle to contain the ADF and other armed groups. The situation is further complicated by renewed conflict with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, creating a volatile security environment across the eastern provinces.

Human rights organizations and religious leaders have called for urgent military and humanitarian intervention to protect vulnerable communities in Ituri and neighboring North Kivu.

The attack on the Komanda church marks one of the deadliest assaults on religious sites in the region this year, raising concerns about targeted violence against Christian communities and the failure of security forces to prevent such atrocities.

The DRC military has vowed to launch counter-offensive operations against the ADF, but experts warn that long-term peace will require regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and stronger civilian protection mechanisms.

As the world watches, the people of Komanda mourn their dead and demand justice.