At Least 38 Killed In Eastern DRC Komanda Church Attack

At least 38 worshippers were brutally killed and 15 others wounded when suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels stormed a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The assailants, armed with machetes and guns, struck during an overnight prayer vigil early Sunday, leaving behind scenes of devastation.

Human rights activist Christophe Munyanderu, who was at the scene, said the attackers targeted Christians who had gathered inside the Caritas-run church. “Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets,” he said. Witnesses also reported several homes and shops were torched, with many residents still missing.

DRC’s Radio Okapi put the death toll at 43, noting that over 20 of the victims were hacked to death. Charred bodies were also discovered in nearby burnt houses. Civil society coordinator Dieudonne Duranthabo told AP that the search for bodies continues: “We are truly disappointed because it is incredible that such a situation could occur in a town where all the security officials are present.”

Following the attack, panic gripped Komanda as many fled to Bunia town. Duranthabo urged swift military intervention, warning that “the enemy is still near our town.” DRC army spokesperson Jules Ngongo confirmed the assault, stating armed men with machetes had entered the church.

The ADF, which pledged allegiance to ISIL (ISIS) in 2019, has a bloody history in eastern DRC. Originally formed in Uganda in the late 1990s, the group moved its operations to DRC in 2002 after Ugandan military offensives. The militia has since been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths and a recent spike in attacks across Ituri.

The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) condemned the killings, linking them to a broader resurgence of violence in the region. Earlier this month, the ADF was accused of carrying out what a UN spokesperson called a “bloodbath” in Ituri.

While the DRC army continues to face challenges containing both the ADF and M23 rebels backed by Rwanda, officials are under pressure to restore security in Komanda and surrounding areas. Authorities have not yet released an official updated death toll but vowed to intensify operations against the ADF.