Over 40 Killed in Rebel Attack on Church in Northeastern DR Congo

More than 40 civilians, including nine children, were brutally killed on Sunday in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Komanda, a town in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a devastating end to a period of relative calm in the region, officials confirmed.

Summary of the Incident

Witnesses from Bunia, the provincial capital, told AFP that the ADF militants raided a Catholic church where worshippers had gathered, killing civilians with machetes.

UN and Military Reactions

Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUSCO), condemned the atrocity:

“These targeted attacks on defenceless civilians, especially in places of worship, are not only revolting but also contrary to all norms of human rights and international humanitarian law.”

The Congolese army described it as a “large-scale massacre”, stating that the attack was likely revenge by ADF rebels aimed at terrorising peaceful populations.

Background and Context

• The ADF, originally a Ugandan Muslim rebel group, pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) in 2019.
• They have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in northeastern DRC.
• Joint military operations, launched by Uganda and DRC in late 2021 under the codename “Shujaa”, have so far failed to eliminate the group.
• The last major ADF attack occurred in February, killing 23 people in Mambasa.

Regional Impact

Komanda, a key commercial town connecting the provinces of Tshopo, North Kivu, and Maniema, has now become the epicentre of renewed violence.

The Congolese army has pledged to continue its pursuit of the rebels and has urged the public to remain “extra vigilant” and report any suspicious activity to security forces.

This resurgence of violence underscores the fragile security situation in Ituri province, where hopes for sustained peace have been violently shattered.