Latest news with #DieudonnéDuranthabo
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.
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First Post
27-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Congo Church Massacre: At least 21 killed by Islamic State-backed rebels
At least 21 people were killed on Sunday in an attack on church premises in eastern Congo by Islamic Statebacked rebels, according to a civil society leader. read more In yet another brutal assault in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 21 people were killed on Sunday when Islamic State-linked rebels attacked a Catholic church complex in Komanda, torching homes and shops and leaving behind scenes of devastation. The pre-dawn raid, carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), unfolded around 1 a.m. and left multiple bodies both inside and outside the church. Local civil society leader Dieudonné Duranthabo reported that three of the victims were found burnt, and warned that the death toll could rise as search efforts continue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has repeatedly targeted civilians across the border regions of Uganda and Congo. Just weeks ago, the group was responsible for a massacre in Ituri province, prompting the UN to describe the violence as a 'bloodbath.' Military officials confirmed the Komanda incident. 'At least 10 people were killed in a machete attack on a church near the town,' said Lt. Jules Ngongo, army spokesperson for Ituri province. Shops nearby were also set on fire, he added. The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s, moved into Congo in 2002 after facing military pressure at home. Since then, it has launched a prolonged campaign of violence, killing thousands of civilians. The group's leadership envisions an Islamic state in the region. Duranthabo criticised the lack of effective security in Komanda despite the presence of government forces. He said some residents were now fleeing toward Bunia, fearing further violence. 'We need immediate military support — the enemy is still close,' he said. As Congo's army continues its battle against the ADF, it is also contending with fresh clashes involving the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses of receiving support from Rwanda. With inputs from agencies
News18
27-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Islamic State-Backed Rebels Kill At Least 21 In Attack On Church In Eastern Congo
Last Updated: The attack took place around 1 am and was carried out by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with ties to the Islamic State At least 21 people were killed early Sunday in an attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, by Islamic State-linked rebels, according to local officials. The attack took place around 1 a.m. and was carried out by fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with ties to the Islamic State. Several houses and shops were also set on fire during the raid. 'More than 21 people were shot dead inside and outside and we have recorded at least three charred bodies and several houses burned," said Dieudonné Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda. 'But the search is continuing." The ADF has been behind a series of deadly attacks in eastern Congo in recent years. Earlier this month, the group killed dozens of civilians in Ituri province, an incident the United Nations described as a 'bloodbath". A spokesperson for the Congolese army in Ituri confirmed the attack and gave a lower initial death toll. 'What we know this morning is that there was an incursion by armed men with machetes into a church not far from Komanda, where about 10 people were killed and massacred and some shops were set on fire," said Lt. Jules Ngongo, the army's spokesperson in the region. The ADF began as a rebel movement in Uganda in the 1990s but shifted its operations into Congo in the early 2000s. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019 and has since carried out brutal attacks across North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Its fighters often target villages, churches, and schools. Local leaders expressed anger and concern about the lack of security in Komanda. 'We are truly disappointed," Duranthabo said. 'It is incredible that such a situation could occur in a town where all the security officials are present. Some citizens have started fleeing the area and are heading towards Bunia." 'We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town," the spokesperson added. The Congolese army, already stretched by ongoing clashes with the M23 rebel group in the region, continues to struggle against the growing threat posed by the ADF. (With inputs from agencies) view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:12 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
