Latest news with #AlliedDemocraticForces
First Post
30-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
DR Congo: ISIS-Linked Attack Kills Over 40; Uganda "Captures" Ituri Town Firstpost Africa
DR Congo: ISIS-Linked Attack Kills Over 40; Uganda "Captures" Ituri Town | Firstpost Africa | N18G A deadly ISIS-linked attack in northeastern DR Congo has killed at least 43 people, shattering a period of calm in the region. The assault, carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), targeted worshippers at a Catholic church in Ituri province. Uganda and DRC had launched a joint military operation in 2021 to defeat the group, but its threat persists. Meanwhile, Uganda's growing military presence and alleged support for other rebel groups—like M23—are raising serious concerns about its true intentions. Is Kampala fighting terror—or pursuing regional influence and resources? This report investigates the conflict's complex layers and rising civilian toll. See More
Al Jazeera
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Video: Funerals held for victims of DRC Catholic church attack
Funerals held for victims of DRC Catholic church attack NewsFeed Families in the Democratic Republic of Congo have held funerals for 38 people killed in an attack by an ISIL-linked rebel group. The Allied Democratic Forces are accused of attacking the church in Komanda, in the country's northwest, killing at least 43 people. Video Duration 04 minutes 31 seconds 04:31 Video Duration 00 minutes 45 seconds 00:45 Video Duration 01 minutes 29 seconds 01:29 Video Duration 01 minutes 15 seconds 01:15 Video Duration 01 minutes 13 seconds 01:13 Video Duration 02 minutes 51 seconds 02:51 Video Duration 02 minutes 47 seconds 02:47
Newsweek
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Bloody Church Massacre Condemned by World Leaders: 'Deeply Disturbing'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An attack against a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend that killed nearly 50 civilians drew condemnation from global leaders. Vicky Hartzler, who chairs the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), told Newsweek that the attack is "disturbing." "The recent increase in attacks on Christians and other religious communities by the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply alarming. The most recent attack is particularly disturbing as it targeted a place of worship during an evening service—individuals should have the freedom to worship without the fear of putting one's life at risk. USCIRF strongly condemns these attacks and calls on the U.S. government to provide all possible support to curtail this disturbing trend," Hartzler said. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment via email. The Context The violence, attributed to Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), highlights the persistent threat that extremist militias pose to civilians in eastern Congo, a region that has faced decades of unrest. The deadly attack also underscored the escalating violence targeting Christian communities in the area. What To Know On Sunday, Islamic State-backed rebels attacked a Catholic church in Komanda, a city in the Ituri province. The United Nations reported that at least 49 civilians, including nine children, were killed during the attack. Several others were injured. The attackers burned down the church and several other nearby homes and businesses. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as MONUSCO, a peacekeeping mission in the region, said in a statement that it held "deep outrage at these heinous acts of violence, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and infringements on human rights." "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," Vivian van de Perre, acting head of MONUSCO, wrote. Pope Leo XIV also condemned the attack. "May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people," he wrote. The aftermath of an attack in Komanda, in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. The aftermath of an attack in Komanda, in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. Olivier Okande/UGC via AP The French Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement on the attack, as well: "France expresses its solidarity with the Congolese government and offers its condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. France stands with the Congolese authorities in their effort to combat terrorist groups and protect the Congolese people," the statement reads. The attack on the Catholic church began at about 1 a.m. on Sunday when armed members of the ADF stormed the church. Video footage from the aftermath showed burning structures and bodies scattered inside the church. The ADF originated in Uganda in the 1990s and has been affiliated with the Islamic State since 2019. It largely operates around the Uganda-Congo border and has targeted civilians living in the area's villages, the Associated Press reported. The ADF was believed to have beheaded 70 Christians in a church in the province of North Kivu. What People Are Saying Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, described the aftermath to the Associated Press: "The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church." UNICEF, in a statement: "The uptick in violence between armed groups in Ituri is worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. It is becoming increasingly difficult for UNICEF and partners to reach those most in need – and children, as ever, are bearing the brunt." What Happens Next Local and international pressure is mounting for stronger security interventions to protect civilians and religious minorities in eastern. The ADF remains active in the region.
The South African
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
38 dead in DRC church attack blamed on ADF rebels
Suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels killed 38-43 people during a Catholic night vigil at Blessed Anuarite parish in Komanda, Ituri province, on 27 July 2025, according to local officials. Armed with guns and machetes, the attackers stormed the church around midnight, targeting worshippers in prayer. Local officials reported that the church attack injured at least 15 people and abducted several others. Witnesses reported gunfire and screams as worshippers fled in panic. Since 2019, the ADF has claimed allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. This is the deadliest attack reported in Ituri province in 2025, surpassing the February massacre in Samboko and Matolo villages that killed 23 civilians. Islamic State-linked rebels launched a brutal attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, killing at least 34 worshippers during a night vigil. Armed with guns and machetes, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stormed the church shortly after midnight. The attack caused panic as people screamed and ran for their lives. In response, civil society leader Dieudonné Duranthabo strongly condemned the killings. He also called for immediate military intervention to protect civilians from further violence. The rebels did not stop at the church. They also set fire to nearby houses and shops. Following the attack, local officials reported discovering at least three charred bodies in burnt homes. Tragically, most of the victims were young. Father Aimé Lokana Dhego confirmed that 31 of the dead were members of the Eucharistic Crusade, a Catholic youth prayer group. In the wake of the massacre, volunteers began preparing a mass grave within the church grounds to bury the dead with dignity. As fear spread, many survivors fled to Bunia and surrounding villages. Residents are now calling for urgent protection and humanitarian support. This attack marks one of the deadliest in Ituri province this year. ADF'S HISTORY AND MOTIVES The ADF originated in Uganda in the late 1990s before relocating to eastern DR Congo in 2002 after military pressure. Since then, the group has killed thousands, often targeting churches and schools in a campaign of terror. The ADF is notorious for brutal attacks using machetes and firearms. In mid-2019, under Musa Baluku's leadership, the group pledged allegiance to ISIS and became the Islamic State's Central Africa Province (ISCAP), pursuing a caliphate in Central Africa without a formal political programme. Although joint Ugandan-Congolese military operations began in 2021, they have failed to dismantle the group's command structure. Eastern DR Congo remains volatile, with over 130 armed groups competing for control of territory and resources. DR Congo's army described the church attack as a 'large-scale massacre' by the ADF. Army spokesperson Jules Ngongo confirmed that rebel activity around Komanda remains a significant threat. MONUSCO denounced the assault as 'revolting' and a clear breach of international humanitarian law. UN officials have warned of a surge in violence across Ituri province this month, including threats to civilians. Despite deploying Congolese troops, security forces have struggled to stop rebel advances in rural areas. Local NGOs now call for urgent international intervention to safeguard communities and assist displaced populations. Meanwhile, the search for the missing continues amid fears of repeat attacks on places of worship. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Newsweek
28-07-2025
- Newsweek
30 Christian Worshippers Killed During Night Vigil in Church
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than 30 Christian worshippers were killed during a prayer vigil in a church in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadist group linked to the Islamic State, is believed to be responsible for the killings, according to Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, in the Ituri province, who spoke to The Associated Press. The Context The DRC has been in a nearly continuous state of war and conflict for more than three decades, but violence has surged recently, with advancement of the March 23 Movement (M23), which has captured strategic locations, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu. ADF is another rebel group involved in the violence. The deadly attack underscored the escalating violence targeting Christian communities in the region. People gather around the charred remains of a vehicle following a deadly attack in Komanda, Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. People gather around the charred remains of a vehicle following a deadly attack in Komanda, Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. AP What To Know The attack on the Catholic church began at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, while the parish was celebrating its 25th anniversary Armed members of the ADF stormed the church in Komanda while more than 100 worshippers were gathered for a prayer vigil, according to local residents cited by The New York Times. The attackers, described as armed with guns and machetes, killed at least 34 people, according to Duranthabo. Other estimates from the U.N. peacekeeping mission and local officials have placed the death toll at up to 43, including nine children. Video footage from the aftermath showed burning structures and bodies scattered inside the church. Several houses and shops nearby were also set ablaze in the attack. The church's priest said some children, mostly between the ages of 12 and 14, were taken hostage by the militants, according to the New York Times. The ADF has been linked to numerous assaults on civilians in eastern DRC, often targeting Christian congregations. Originating in Uganda in the 1990s and affiliated with the Islamic State since 2019, the ADF has a reputation for extreme brutality, including beheadings and kidnappings of civilians. In February, Newsweek reported on how the ADF is believed to have beheaded 70 Christians in a church in the province of North Kivu. What People Are Saying Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, described the aftermath to the Associated Press: "The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church." Vivian van de Perre, deputy chief of Monusco, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the region: "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." What Happens Next The massacre has renewed debate over Congo's security situation and the protection of religious minorities. With the recent drawdown of U.N. peacekeepers and a fragile peace process unfolding with other rebel factions such as M23, security forces are stretched thin across the region. The United Nations, provincial authorities, and international advocacy groups have called for urgent measures to improve the protection of civilians and places of worship.
