In a horrifying assault in the early hours of Sunday, July 27, militants believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State-backed Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stormed a Catholic church in Komanda, a town in Ituri province, eastern Congo.
The attack left at least 43 people dead, with some reports indicating the toll could be higher. Several houses and shops were torched, and victims were left strewn inside the church as volunteers prepared a mass grave on church grounds. Heart-wrenching scenes emerged from the area, showing shocked residents mourning amidst the smouldering remains of the tragedy.
A second attack unfolded in the nearby village of Machongani, where at least five individuals were killed and others abducted. Civil society leaders warned that the assailants—armed with machetes and rifles—had emerged from a rebel stronghold just 12 kilometres away, and vanished before security forces could intervene. The Congolese army confirmed 10 deaths, while U.N.-backed sources cited as many as 43. The attacks have reignited calls for urgent military action in regions where security forces are present but seemingly unable to deter rebel violence.
The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s, has entrenched itself in eastern Congo since 2002. Known for its brutality and allegiance to the Islamic State since 2019, the group continues to exploit the Congolese army’s limited capacity to protect civilians, especially in conflict-prone areas such as Ituri. The latest killings underscore a deepening humanitarian crisis, as the region remains vulnerable to incessant attacks, cross-border rebel activities, and the resurgence of ethnic militias, including the Rwanda-backed M23 movement.