ISIS-Backed Rebels Kill At least 21 in Church Attack in Eastern Congo
Islamic State-backed ADF rebels massacred at least 21 worshippers during a night mass at a Catholic church in Komanda, eastern Congo. Fatality estimates range up to 40, leaving burned bodies and fleeing civilians in their wake.
At least 21 people were killed when Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, during a night mass at 1 a.m. today, local authorities and witnesses reported. The Congolese army confirmed at least 10 deaths, while Reuters cited up to 38 fatalities, and local media reported over 40. The assailants shot worshippers inside and outside the church, with some bodies burned, and set fire to houses and shops, forcing civilians to flee toward Bunia.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society leader, told the Associated Press that over 21 were shot and at least three bodies were charred, with the attackers still near Komanda, raising fears of further violence. The army’s spokesperson, Lt. Jules Ngongo, urged residents to remain vigilant as operations against the ADF continue.
The ADF, a Uganda-based militia active in eastern DRC since 2002, has intensified attacks in 2025, killing dozens in Ituri and North Kivu. This assault follows a July “bloodbath” in the region, with the group targeting civilians, churches, and schools. The attack underscores the DRC’s ongoing struggle with over 100 armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, amid strained military resources and recent territorial losses.
Civilians are fleeing to Bunia, adding to over 100,000 displaced in Ituri this year. Calls for urgent military action grow as the ADF’s presence threatens further instability in the region.