Komanda, DR Congo – Africa Live News – July 28, 2025 – At least dozens of lives were tragically cut short on Sunday during a brutal attack on a Catholic church in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), allegedly perpetrated by militants affiliated with the Islamic State-backed Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The horrifying incident occurred during an overnight prayer vigil hosted by Caritas, a charitable organization under the Catholic Church, in the town of Komanda, located in the volatile Ituri province. According to local civil society leaders and security sources, armed assailants stormed the church premises wielding machetes and firearms, killing numerous worshippers in cold blood.
The death toll remains uncertain as rescue teams and local volunteers continue to recover bodies from the scene and surrounding areas. Several houses and shops near the church were also torched during the coordinated raid, which has left the entire community in deep mourning and fear.
“The Enemy Is Still Near”
Dieudonné Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, described the assault as a massacre that defied belief, especially in a region purportedly under the protection of Congolese security forces.
“It’s incredible that an attack of this magnitude can happen in a town where our own security officials are stationed. We are not safe,” Duranthabo lamented in a statement to reporters. “We’ve been told the enemy is still near our town. We demand a swift and decisive military intervention.”
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the attackers arrived late Saturday night and took the worshippers by surprise during their vigil. Survivors described chaotic scenes of people fleeing into the surrounding forest, some barefoot, as shots rang out and flames engulfed nearby homes.
Islamic State-Linked Violence
The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel faction, has grown increasingly dangerous in recent years, particularly after aligning itself with the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP). The group has become one of the deadliest terror organizations in the Great Lakes region, often targeting civilians, religious centers, schools, and health facilities.
Founded in the 1990s in Uganda by radicalized Islamist dissidents dissatisfied with President Yoweri Museveni’s rule, the ADF fled to the dense forests of eastern DRC following sustained military pressure. Since relocating to North Kivu and Ituri provinces, the group has carried out hundreds of deadly attacks, leaving thousands dead and many more displaced.
The latest massacre comes just weeks after the ADF killed over 40 civilians in similar assaults in Ituri, prompting fresh condemnation from international organizations and rights groups.
International Outcry and UN Response
The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as part of a “disturbing escalation in civilian-targeted violence” in the east of the country.
“The atrocities committed by armed groups, particularly the ADF, represent clear violations of international humanitarian law and human rights,” a UN spokesperson said in Kinshasa. “The cycle of impunity must be broken. We stand with the people of Ituri and call for stronger protective measures.”
MONUSCO, which has been operating in the DRC since 1999, has been gradually drawing down its presence amid mounting local dissatisfaction and accusations of ineffectiveness. Nonetheless, it continues to offer logistical and intelligence support to Congolese armed forces in the east.
DRC Military Stretched Thin
Sunday’s massacre comes at a time when the Congolese army is already overwhelmed by a resurgence of multiple armed conflicts across the east of the country. In addition to battling the ADF, the military is engaged in fierce confrontations with the M23 rebel group, widely believed to be supported by neighboring Rwanda—an accusation Kigali has repeatedly denied.
The DRC’s eastern region, rich in minerals but plagued by lawlessness, has become a haven for over 100 armed groups, according to humanitarian agencies. Civilians, including women and children, are often caught in the crossfire, leading to repeated mass displacements and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The government in Kinshasa has vowed to neutralize the armed groups but has struggled to maintain control of the region despite partnerships with regional forces and the support of international actors.
“A Bloodbath”
Just earlier this month, the ADF was blamed for another series of attacks in Ituri that left over 50 people dead. The United Nations described that assault as a “bloodbath,” underscoring the brutality of the group and the growing risks faced by rural communities in the region.
Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns about the unchecked activities of the ADF and other militias. In a recent report, the rights group said the DRC government’s inability to secure the eastern region has resulted in “widespread fear, chronic instability, and human rights violations on an appalling scale.”
National Mourning and Pleas for Action
Sunday’s tragedy has sparked outrage across Congo, with church leaders, human rights groups, and civil society organizations calling for national mourning and immediate government action.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, described the attack as “an assault on the soul of our nation,” and called on President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration to urgently restore peace in the east.
“How many more churches must burn before we take concrete action to stop these atrocities?” the Cardinal asked during a press briefing.
In Komanda, residents lit candles outside the destroyed church on Monday morning, holding prayers for the victims and their families. Survivors, many of whom remain traumatized, are receiving medical care and counseling support from Caritas and other humanitarian organizations.
Way Forward
As the DRC prepares for upcoming political transitions and faces pressure from international donors, Sunday’s massacre is a stark reminder that peace in the eastern provinces remains fragile at best. Without sustained military reform, regional cooperation, and improved governance, analysts warn, the cycle of violence is likely to continue.
The people of Komanda—and eastern Congo at large—continue to plead for peace, justice, and protection.
– Africa Live News
