In a recent surge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeastern Ituri province, Islamist militants affiliated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed at least 43 people during a brutal assault on a church vigil. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) condemned the attack, which occurred late Saturday in the town of Komanda. Among the dead were nine children, while 15 others sustained injuries. Witnesses described attackers wielding machetes, looting shops, and setting fire to buildings before abducting an unspecified number of civilians.
The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly assaults by the ADF, an armed group linked to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). MONUSCO’s statement on Sunday highlighted the targeted nature of the violence, noting that victims were predominantly Christians gathered for an overnight prayer service. Survivors recounted scenes of chaos as assailants stormed the church, leaving bodies strewn across the compound. Local authorities reported widespread panic in Komanda, with residents accusing armed groups of exploiting the region’s instability.
Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Protection and Operations, condemned the killings as a violation of international humanitarian law. “These attacks against civilians in places of worship are appalling and unacceptable,” she said, affirming MONUSCO’s commitment to collaborating with Congolese forces to protect vulnerable populations. The mission has increased patrols in Ituri, but challenges persist due to the ADF’s entrenched presence in the dense forests bordering Uganda.
Originally formed as a Ugandan rebel faction in the 1990s, the ADF has operated in eastern Congo for decades, increasingly aligning with ISIS since 2019. The group has been blamed for a July 3 raid in Ituri that killed 47 people, as well as numerous attacks on villages, displacing thousands. Last week, MONUSCO warned of escalating violence by the ADF and other militias, urging foreign fighters to disarm and repatriate. Despite joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan troops, the insurgents continue to exploit porous borders and weak governance.
The Komanda massacre underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, where over 6 million people have been displaced by decades of conflict. Communities in Ituri and neighboring provinces face chronic insecurity, compounded by competition over resources and ethnic tensions. Analysts warn that without sustained international pressure and regional cooperation, armed groups like the ADF will further destabilize central Africa. MONUSCO, which has operated in the country since 1999, faces growing criticism over its effectiveness, even as it pledges to fulfill its mandate to protect civilians. For now, survivors in Komanda mourn their dead, their grief a stark reminder of the human toll of unrelenting violence.
