At least 43 people, including nine children, were brutally killed in a nighttime attack on a church in Komanda, a town in the conflict-ridden Ituri province of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The assault has been blamed on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State.
The victims were worshippers attending a church vigil when militants stormed the premises, killing men, women, and children with machetes and other weapons. In addition to the massacre, shops and local businesses were looted and set on fire, deepening the devastation.
According to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), the victims included 19 women, 15 men, and nine children. The attack has been widely condemned as a gross violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
“These targeted assaults on innocent civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but utterly unacceptable under any legal or moral standard,” said Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Chief of MONUSCO.
The Congolese military described the incident as a “cowardly ambush” designed to spread fear and disrupt ongoing joint military operations with Ugandan forces. Lt. Jules Ngongo, a spokesperson for the army, noted that the attack highlights the desperation of the ADF amid continued pressure from counterterrorism efforts in the region.
Despite these operations, the ADF continues to carry out deadly attacks across Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province—regions rich in natural resources but long plagued by insecurity, ethnic violence, and weak governance.
Authorities have urged communities to remain alert and report suspicious activities. The government also reiterated its commitment to dismantling armed groups operating in the region.
The international community, led by the UN, has called for accountability and stronger protection for civilians living in eastern DR Congo, where violence by armed groups has claimed thousands of lives over the past decade.
