At least 43 people lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo when a Catholic church came under attack by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels on Sunday. The ADF, an insurgent group affiliated with the “Islamic State” group, stormed the church in the northeastern town of Komanda during a prayer service. Among the fatalities were nine children, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MONUSCO. Reports indicate that the rebels also set fire to houses and shops surrounding the church. The mission’s deputy chief, Vivian van de Perre, condemned the attack, stating that such targeted assaults on defenseless civilians, especially in places of worship, violate human rights and international humanitarian law.
Congo’s army described the incident as a “large-scale massacre” and accused the ADF of targeting innocent populations to spread terror. This attack ended a several-month period of calm in the region of Ituri, which borders Uganda. In February, a similar ADF attack in the province’s Mambasa territory resulted in 23 deaths. Eastern Congo is notorious for being one of the world’s most dangerous regions, with approximately 130 active armed groups vie for control of its rich natural resources. The hostilities earlier this year between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group concluded with a truce on July 19.
The ADF is a long-standing insurgent group that originated in Uganda and operates in eastern Congo, having claimed thousands of civilian lives. The group, which often employs hatchets and machetes, pledged allegiance to the “Islamic State” group in 2019.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/congo-over-40-killed-in-militant-attack-on-church/a-73433602?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
