Global (Commonwealth Union) _ A church attack in the town of Komanda, located in eastern Congo, has resulted in the deaths of at least 43 civilians, including women and children. The incident occurred during the early hours of Sunday, July 27, and was reportedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group with ties to the Islamic State.
The attack targeted a Catholic church that was in the midst of a night mass. Local reports indicate that the attackers entered the church around 1 a.m. and used machetes and firearms to kill worshippers. Along with the church massacre, the attackers also set fire to several homes and shops.
The ADF was originally formed in Uganda but now operates from mineral-rich eastern DRC and has been responsible for repeated attacks on civilians in the region. A local civil society leader reported that volunteers had prepared a mass grave within the church compound to bury the victims. The attackers are believed to have come from a nearby stronghold and fled before security forces could intervene.
Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Ituri, confirmed that the perpetrators were armed and well-organised, using their weapons to “inflict maximum harm before escaping under the cover of darkness.”
MONUSCO, the United Nations mission in the country, has condemned the assault, stating that it resulted in the deaths of at least 19 women and nine children. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility via its Telegram channel and stated that its affiliates had killed over 45 worshippers and set fire to dozens of buildings.
The region has faced such violence before, with the ADF being allegedly connected to another massacre just two weeks prior in Irumu, where at least 66 people were killed. Over time, the group’s leadership has evolved into more radical factions. The former leader of ADF, Jamil Mukulu, a Christian convert to Islam who reportedly fled to Kenya, was replaced by Yusuf Kabanda, under whose leadership the group aligned more directly with ISIS operations.
Pope Leo acknowledged the grief of the affected Christian community and extended a message of condolence, prayers, and support.
