Komanda, Democratic Republic of Congo — In a tragic act of violence, more than 30 Christians were brutally killed during a prayer vigil at a Catholic church in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The massacre occurred early Sunday morning in the town of Komanda, Ituri province, as the parish community gathered to celebrate the church’s 25th anniversary.
According to local civil society coordinator Dieudonne Duranthabo, the attack was carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadist group affiliated with the Islamic State. Witnesses say armed militants stormed the church around 1 a.m., wielding guns and machetes, as more than 100 worshippers prayed inside.
At least 34 people were confirmed dead, with other estimates—including those from U.N. peacekeepers—placing the toll as high as 43, including nine children. Survivors reported that several young children, aged 12 to 14, were abducted by the attackers.
Video footage from the aftermath showed the church and nearby buildings engulfed in flames, with bodies lying among the debris. The violence has sent shockwaves through Christian communities across the region and beyond.
“The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy,” Duranthabo told the Associated Press. “Volunteers are preparing a mass grave in the Catholic church compound.”
The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s and aligned with ISIS since 2019, is notorious for brutal attacks on civilians—often targeting Christians. In February, the group was believed to have beheaded 70 Christians in a similar attack in North Kivu province.
A Nation in Turmoil
The DRC has been plagued by armed conflict for more than three decades. While the M23 rebel group has recently captured major cities like Goma and Bukavu, the ADF continues to wage a separate, terror-driven campaign in the east. Sunday’s massacre is one of the deadliest church attacks in recent years and highlights the growing vulnerability of Christian populations in the region.
Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO), condemned the assault:
“These targeted attacks against defenseless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law.”
A Call for Protection
The attack has reignited calls for stronger protections for religious minorities in the DRC. With U.N. peacekeepers reducing their presence and government forces stretched thin, many fear that churches—symbols of peace and sanctuary—are becoming soft targets for extremist violence.
International Christian advocacy groups and humanitarian organizations have urged immediate intervention and long-term security reform to safeguard vulnerable communities of faith.
As Christians around the world mourn the loss of these believers, the church in Komanda is left grieving—and praying—for justice, peace, and the safe return of the children taken.
