The death toll from a brutal attack on a Catholic church in eastern Congo has climbed to 34, with Islamic State-backed rebels suspected as the perpetrators, according to a local civil society leader. The assault occurred in Komanda, a town in the Ituri province, where the victims’ bodies remain at the scene as volunteers prepare a mass grave within the church compound. Earlier in the day, at least five more people were killed in a related attack on the nearby village of Machongani, where some individuals were reportedly taken into the forest, their whereabouts and numbers still unknown.
Both attacks are believed to have been carried out by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), a rebel group armed with guns and machetes, known for its ties to the Islamic State. The Congolese military confirmed at least 10 deaths in the church assault, while local media estimates the total fatalities exceed 40. The attackers struck around 1 a.m., also setting fire to houses and shops in Komanda. Video footage from the scene showed burning buildings and bodies inside the church, with survivors reacting in shock and grief. Despite the presence of security forces in the area, the rebels fled before an effective military response could be mounted. Calls for urgent intervention have been made as the rebel threat remains close to the town.
Eastern Congo has been plagued by violent attacks from armed groups for years, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed militias. The ADF originated in Uganda in the late 1990s and relocated to Congo after military pressure, growing more dangerous with its 2019 allegiance to the Islamic State. It operates mainly near the Uganda-Congo border, frequently targeting civilians. The Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) continue to struggle with the ADF amid ongoing conflicts with other rebel factions like the Rwanda-backed M23. The recent church attack marks another grim chapter in the region’s persistent violence.
