KOMANDA, DR CONGO – More than 40 people, including nine children, have been killed in an attack by an Islamic State affiliate in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the United Nations and the Congolese military. The majority of the victims were worshippers attending a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were assaulted by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, also saw nearby shops and businesses looted and set on fire. The UN peacekeeping mission, Monusco, confirmed that at least 43 people were killed, including 19 women, 15 men, and nine children.
Analysis:
The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group formed in the 1990s, has increasingly become a significant threat in eastern DR Congo. While initially accusing the Ugandan government of persecuting Muslims, the group is now primarily based across the border in DR Congo and is known for its brutal attacks on civilians of all religions. Its formal affiliation with Islamic State’s Central African Province, which also includes a group in Mozambique, highlights a worrying trend of expanding jihadist influence across the continent. According to BBC Monitoring research, nearly 90% of Islamic State’s global operations are now carried out by its African affiliates, underscoring the growing challenge posed by these groups.
The attack in Komanda, located in the mineral-rich Ituri province, is the latest in a series of violent incidents in a region long plagued by conflict involving various armed groups. Monusco Deputy Chief Vivian van de Perre condemned the “targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship,” calling them “appalling” and a “violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law.”
The Congolese military stated that “about 40 people were surprised and killed with machetes and several others were seriously injured,” adding that “these terrorists have decided to take revenge on defenceless peaceful populations to spread terror.” Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, the Congolese army spokesman in Ituri province, suggested the attack was a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from ongoing joint military operations with the Ugandan military targeting the militant group. DR Congo invited Ugandan troops into the country in 2021 to assist in tackling the ADF, but despite these efforts, attacks on civilians continue. Last week, Monusco had already condemned a “resurgence of violence” in July, citing earlier ADF attacks on July 8-9 that resulted in 47 deaths. The ongoing violence in Ituri underscores the persistent insecurity and the complex challenges faced by security forces in protecting civilians in the region.
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