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Over 40 people have died after a terrorist attack targeting a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Some shit you should know before you read: For decades, the DRC has been in an intense struggle against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a terrorist organization that originated in neighboring Uganda in the mid-1990s. Founded by Jamil Mukulu, a former Catholic who converted to Islam, the ADF began as a coalition of rebel factions opposing Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, claiming to defend the rights of Muslims and resist state persecution. After facing sustained military pressure in Uganda, the group relocated to eastern Congo, where it entrenched itself in the region’s forests. The ADF has been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including mass killings, abductions, sexual slavery, and the conscription of child soldiers. In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and has since carried out more attacks, primarily targeting those of the Christian faith.
What’s going on now: Over the weekend, the ADF carried out a brutal attack on a Catholic church in the town of Komanda, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Armed with machetes and guns, the attackers stormed the church around 1:00 am during a vigil held by members of the Eucharistic Crusade, a Catholic youth movement marking their silver jubilee. 43 civilians were killed, with many butchered with machetes inside the church while others were shot or burned alive. Among the victims were men, women, and children (nine of them under the age of 18), while others sustained serious injuries or remain missing.
The Congolese military and government condemned the massacre, with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) describing it as a targeted attempt to spread terror among civilians. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa released a formal statement calling it a “cowardly and heinous act committed to instill terror among the population and derail the ongoing joint military operations conducted by the Congolese Armed Forces and the Ugandan army.” She added, “The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo firmly condemns this odious crime,” and reassured the public that “all necessary measures are being taken to support victims and put an end to terrorist activities in the region.”
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, also reacted strongly to the violence. In a statement, MONUSCO deputy chief Vivian van de Perre said, “These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law.”
