More than 40 Christians were slaughtered in a savage midnight terror attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, a small town in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), during a July 27 midnight vigil, according to local officials and international sources.
The massacre was claimed by the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — a notorious jihadist group with a history of targeting Christian communities in central Africa.
Worshippers Killed During Prayer
Eyewitnesses described scenes of unspeakable horror:
“They killed those that met in the church hall. Those who tried to flee were caught and killed in the compound and running towards the road,” a survivor told Fox News. “There was sadness everywhere.”
According to officials, the attackers used both firearms and machetes, killing 15 men, 19 women, and 9 children. At least five more civilians were murdered in surrounding homes and shops, and several children were abducted.
Church Torched, Bodies Found Scattered
Bodies were found strewn across the church compound and nearby alleys. The attackers also set fire to homes and local businesses, compounding the devastation.
The Congolese military called it a “large-scale massacre,” suggesting the ambush may have been retaliation for recent military operations against the ADF.
Who Are the ADF?
The Allied Democratic Forces, originally formed in Uganda, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019 and have since carried out dozens of attacks across Ituri Province in the DRC. Their increasingly religiously motivated violence has devastated Christian populations in eastern Congo.
This is not the first atrocity. Just months ago, 70 Christians were killed in a similar ADF assault on a Protestant church in the same region.
Global Outrage: Vatican, U.S., U.N. Respond
Pope Leo XIV: “Deep pain” and “condolences to grieving families. He’d pray for them,” a Vatican spokesman added.
U.S. State Department: “A heinous act of religious persecution. Religious freedom is a fundamental right this Administration strongly supports” a spokesperson said Thursday.
United Nations: U.N. human rights officials and security advisors condemned the massacre and renewed calls for increased international support to stop the spread of Islamist terrorism in central Africa.
Security Collapse in Congo
Despite ongoing Congolese military operations and the presence of U.N. peacekeepers, the security situation in eastern Congo has spiraled out of control. The latest massacre underscores the failure of regional and international forces to protect vulnerable civilian populations.
“Everything they had was lost. They have nothing now,” one survivor told local press.
