Dozens of lives were lost in a brutal assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with Islamic State, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The attack targeted worshippers attending a night vigil at a church in Komanda, a town in the troubled, mineral rich Ituri province. According to local officials, about 20 victims were at the church, with additional fatalities found in surrounding areas. Some reports put the death toll as high as 43, though figures vary widely DR Congo’s army has confirmed just 10 deaths so far.
The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group from the 1990s, is notorious for cross-border attacks and civilian massacres. It now operates as part of Islamic State’s Central African Province, alongside extremist factions in Mozambique.
Alongside the tragic loss of life, the attackers looted and set fire to shops and homes. Community leader Dieudonne Duranthabo warned that more bodies may be uncovered as the search continues. Local priest Father Aime Lokana Dhego said 31 members of the Eucharistic Crusade were among the dead, with others seriously wounded or abducted.
Despite the presence of Ugandan troops invited in 2021 to combat ADF incursions, the violence has persisted leaving communities like Komanda shattered once again.
