Dozens of people have been killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State affiliate, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The attack targeted worshippers taking part in a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda, resulting in the deaths of about 20 people. Nearby shops and businesses were looted and set on fire.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, stated 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, reported that at least 31 members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement were killed, 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 reported 43 deaths, while a spokesperson for the army confirmed 10 deaths. The ADF, which emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, has become part of the Islamic State’s Central African Province and regularly attacks civilians of all religions in DR Congo and Uganda. According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of Islamic State operations are now carried out by affiliates in Africa.
This attack is the latest in a series of violence in the region, which has been fought over by various armed groups for many years. In 2021, DR Congo invited Ugandan troops into the country to help tackle the ADF, but attacks continue. The town of Komanda is located in the mineral-rich Ituri province, a region plagued by instability and violence.
The attack on the Catholic church in eastern DR Congo’s Komanda region is a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and instability in the region. The Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been known to target civilians and churches in the area, leaving a trail of destruction and death. The attack has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, with many calling for increased security measures to protect vulnerable communities. The DR Congo government has pledged to take action to prevent such attacks in the future, but the reality on the ground remains dire for many innocent civilians.