KOMANDA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Africa Live News
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MONUSCO, has strongly condemned a brutal overnight assault by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that left at least 43 people dead, including nine children, in the country’s volatile Ituri province.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, targeted Christian worshippers attending a night vigil at a local church in the town of Komanda, a community located in northeastern DRC. According to MONUSCO’s official statement, the assailants—armed with machetes and believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State group—unleashed indiscriminate violence on the unsuspecting congregation.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying. Survivors recounted how the assailants stormed the church compound in the middle of prayer, killing congregants, looting nearby shops, and setting several businesses ablaze.
In addition to the deaths, at least 15 people sustained serious injuries, and multiple individuals were abducted, raising concerns about the potential for forced recruitment or ransom demands by the attackers.
MONUSCO Decries Attack as Crime Against Humanity
Describing the massacre as “appalling,” MONUSCO officials stressed that the attack was a clear violation of international law.
“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,” said Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Protection and Operations and Acting Head of MONUSCO.
Van de Perre emphasized the peacekeeping mission’s unwavering commitment to its mandate of civilian protection.
“MONUSCO will continue to work tirelessly alongside the Congolese authorities to protect the population,” she added.
The incident has triggered renewed calls for stronger coordination between UN forces and Congolese security agencies to prevent future atrocities and protect vulnerable communities from militant violence.
ADF’s Expanding Reach and Islamic State Links
The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s, has evolved into one of the deadliest armed groups in the eastern DRC. While the group initially emerged as an anti-Ugandan rebel faction, it has since relocated its base of operations to the Congo’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where it has deepened its insurgency with brutal attacks on civilians.
In recent years, the ADF has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), strengthening its operational and ideological ties to global jihadist networks. The United Nations and other international observers have noted an increase in both the frequency and lethality of the group’s attacks, which often target churches, schools, and rural villages.
This latest massacre follows a similar assault by the ADF in early July 2025, also in Ituri province, where 47 people were killed in a separate village attack. The repetition of such high-casualty incidents within weeks signals a disturbing escalation in the group’s activities and capabilities.
UN Warns of Worsening Security in Eastern Congo
Just days before Sunday’s attack, MONUSCO had issued a warning about a resurgence of violence in the eastern provinces, particularly from foreign-armed groups such as the ADF. The peacekeeping mission urged all such forces to lay down their arms unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.
“Eastern Congo continues to suffer from a complex web of armed conflicts that have defied multiple peace processes,” said Claude Mavungu, a Goma-based conflict analyst. “What we are seeing is a dangerous cocktail of transnational jihadist movements and local militias exploiting weak state presence.”
The situation remains dire in rural parts of Ituri and North Kivu, where government forces have limited reach and many villages remain vulnerable to repeated attacks. Displacement camps in the region are overcrowded, and humanitarian agencies face difficulties delivering aid due to persistent insecurity.
Calls for Justice and Protection
The massacre in Komanda has sparked outrage among local and international human rights organizations, who are calling for urgent investigations and accountability. Community leaders have also appealed for increased troop presence and aerial surveillance in known conflict hotspots.
“This level of barbarity cannot go unpunished,” said Pastor Jean-Marc Odia, a survivor whose church was attacked. “We demand justice for the innocent lives lost, and we ask the government and UN to protect those of us who remain.”
MONUSCO, whose mandate includes protecting civilians and supporting stabilization efforts, has pledged to step up patrols and coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to pursue those responsible. However, questions remain about the overall effectiveness of current peacekeeping efforts in halting the advance of militant groups.
Regional and International Response
The DRC government has yet to issue a formal statement on the Komanda massacre, but sources within the Ministry of Interior confirm that emergency security meetings have been held in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri.
Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) missions in Kinshasa have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation. In a joint statement, they urged international partners to provide more logistical and financial support to bolster peacekeeping and counterinsurgency efforts in the region.
The United States Embassy in Kinshasa also condemned the attack, describing it as a “heinous act of terror” and reaffirming its support for ongoing UN peacekeeping operations in eastern Congo.
Looking Ahead
The deadly assault on worshippers in Komanda underscores the fragile state of security in the DRC’s eastern provinces, where hundreds of armed groups continue to operate with impunity. While MONUSCO and Congolese forces have achieved some success in dislodging insurgents in the past, sustained military pressure, coupled with community engagement and development, remains essential for lasting peace.
As families bury their loved ones and survivors nurse their wounds, the international community is once again reminded of the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to dismantle the networks of terror that continue to claim innocent lives in the heart of Africa.
Africa Live News will continue to follow developments in Ituri and provide updates on regional security, humanitarian response, and justice for the victims of the Komanda massacre.
