Attack on church in Congo leaves more than 40 dead

Rebels linked to the Islamic State terrorist group stormed a church in the northeast of the country and executed worshippers. Nine children are among the dead. At least 43 people were killed this Sunday (27/07) in an attack by rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, in English) on a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The ADF – an insurgent group with links to the so-called Islamic State – stormed the church, located in the northeastern city of Komanda, as worshippers gathered to pray.

Nine children are among the dead, according to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco), the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

"Most of the victims were reportedly stabbed in a place of worship. Several people were kidnapped. Homes and shops were also set on fire, worsening an already extremely worrying humanitarian situation," said the deputy head of MONUSCO, in a statement released Sunday night.

"These attacks targeting defenseless civilians, especially in places of worship, are not only outrageous but also contrary to all human rights standards and international humanitarian law," the statement added.

Congolese army denounces attack

Sunday's attack marked the end of a months-long calm in the Ituri region, on the border with Uganda.

In February, 23 people died in an attack by the Congolese Armed Forces (ADF) in Mambasa territory in that province.

The Congolese army condemned what it described as a "large-scale massacre" and said the ADF had decided to "take revenge on defenseless peaceful populations to spread terror."

Eastern Congo is considered one of the most dangerous regions in the world.

About 130 active armed groups

Nearly 130 armed groups are said to be active across the country, many of which are focused on controlling the region's vast and valuable reserves of natural resources, such as coltan, cobalt, gold and diamonds.

Hostilities earlier this year between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group ended in a truce on July 19.

The ADF is a long-standing insurgent group originating from Uganda and operating in eastern Congo. The rebels are responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.

The group frequently uses axes and machetes to carry out attacks. In 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

md (AFD, AP, DPA, EFE, Lusa)