Nearly 40 Dead in Deadly Church Attack in Congo’s Ituri Province
In a horrifying incident early Sunday, at least 38 worshippers were massacred inside a Catholic church in Komanda, a town in Congo’s troubled Ituri province. The attackers, identified as members of the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) — a group affiliated with the Islamic State — stormed the church during a midnight vigil. Another five civilians were killed in a nearby village, pushing the death toll to 43.
Among the victims were 19 men, 15 women, and 9 children, according to local sources and the Congolese army.
Who Are the ADF Rebels?
The ADF originated in Uganda during the 1990s amid political tensions and accusations of anti-Muslim policies. Over the decades, the group was expelled from Uganda and moved operations to eastern Congo. In 2019, ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, intensifying its campaign of terror.
Growing Instability in Eastern Congo
Eastern Congo continues to reel from decades of armed conflict, with over 100 rebel groups active in the region. The M23 group, backed by Rwanda, has dominated headlines with a series of offensives. However, ADF has quietly escalated attacks, especially in remote villages.
Despite joint operations between Congolese and Ugandan troops, experts say these military campaigns have failed to provide lasting security for civilians. Analyst Onesphore Sematumba of the International Crisis Group warned that ADF is exploiting the military’s focus on M23 to strike with deadly precision.
Midnight Vigil Turns Into Massacre
The church attack occurred around 1 a.m. on July 11, catching hundreds off guard during a prayer service. Survivors described scenes of horror as gunmen opened fire indiscriminately. Nearby, the village of Machongani was also attacked, with homes burned and more lives lost.
Security officials believe the rebels fled from their stronghold, just 12 km from Komanda, before security forces could intervene.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The massacre has sparked outrage. The Congolese government condemned the incident as a “large-scale massacre,” while M23 leaders blamed the government for failing to protect citizens. The UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO warned that the killings would worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis in Ituri province.
As Congo faces overlapping crises of rebel violence, displacement, and weak governance, the Sunday church attack stands as a grim reminder of the fragility of peace in the region.