Latest news with #PierreAbendi
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Survivors of church massacre in DR Congo recount night of terror
Gunshots thundered as attackers burst into the church hall, picked out victims, tied them up and shot them dead, survivors in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) said Monday. Witnesses of the massacre, which took place from Saturday night to Sunday in Komanda, Ituri province, described to Agence France-Presse how Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters massacred dozens of worshippers, including women and children, at the Blessed Anuarite Catholic parish church. Pierre Abendi, 21, said he arrived at the church on Saturday evening and 'fell asleep a few minutes later' before being woken by the sound of gunshots. 'At first, we thought they were boys from the town, but when I heard they were speaking a foreign language, I understood that they were the ADF,' he told Agence France-Presse. 'I stood against a wall and hid behind a mattress. I waited quietly for my turn to die,' he said, his voice trembling. Civilians bury the remains of people killed in an attack carried out by Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) at a church in Komanda, near Ituri's provincial capital of Bunia, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Reuters It was one of the worst recent attacks blamed on the ADF, an Islamist group that is affiliated with the Salafi militant group Islamic State (known as IS, ISIL or ISIS) – shattering recent months of regional calm. It is one of various armed groups present in the northeast and east of the DR Congo, stricken by conflict in recent years. The UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MONUSCO) said the attack killed 43 people overall, including nine children. A priest, Aime Lokana Dhego, said he knew of 'six seriously wounded and a number of young people kidnapped' from the church. One man who asked not to be identified said he was in his shop near the church with his brother when he heard 'gunshots and cries for help'. Minutes later, the attackers knocked on their door. 'If you don't open up, we'll set you on fire,' they said, according to the man. Opening the door, 'we saw them armed with machetes and rifles. It was terrifying.' Once out in the bush, he said, 'We thought they were going to cut our throats.' The two fled when another group of armed men appeared and confronted the ADF, firing shots in the air. A recent attack targeted a Catholic church in the town of Komanda where worshippers had gathered for prayer, local sources told Agence France-Presse by telephone from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. Photo: AFP On Monday, the two attended a funeral for victims of the attack in Komanda, some 60km (40 miles) southwest of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the volatile east of the DRC. After a religious ceremony, the coffins of the victims were placed in a large communal grave for burial, watched by security forces. Local residents were quick to criticise the authorities' handling of security in Komanda. 'We're truly in shock. Children and women have been killed,' one local woman at the funeral told Agence France-Presse. 'What are the security services doing in Komanda? They're not doing their job. They're not doing anything at all.' 'These targeted attacks on defenceless civilians, especially in places of worship, are not only revolting but also contrary to all norms of human rights and international humanitarian law,' said Vivian van de Perre, deputy chief of MONUSCO. The Congolese army denounced the 'large-scale massacre', adding that 'around forty civilians were surprised and killed with machetes and several others were seriously injured'. It said the ADF had decided to take 'revenge on defenceless peaceful populations to spread terror'. A mainly Muslim fundamentalist group formed by former Ugandan rebels, the ADF has looted and killed thousands of civilians in northeastern DRC, despite the deployment of the Ugandan and Congolese armies in the area since 2021. Pope Leo XIV on Monday expressed his dismay and 'profound grief' at the attack. France condemned it 'with utmost firmness' and said it stood 'alongside the Congolese authorities in fighting against terrorist groups and protecting the population'.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
DR Congo church massacre survivors describe ADF terror attack
BUNIA: Survivors of a brutal massacre at a Catholic church in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo have described a night of terror as Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants stormed the building, killing dozens. The attack, which occurred overnight Saturday to Sunday in Komanda, Ituri province, left 43 dead, including nine children. Pierre Abendi, 21, was among those inside the Blessed Anuarite Catholic parish church when the assault began. 'I stood against a wall and hid behind a mattress. I waited quietly for my turn to die,' he told AFP, his voice trembling. Witnesses said the attackers spoke a foreign language, confirming their identity as ADF fighters. The UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) confirmed the death toll, while a local priest, Aime Lokana Dhego, reported six seriously wounded and several young people kidnapped. One survivor, who asked not to be named, described hearing 'gunshots and cries for help' before militants threatened to burn down his shop. 'We saw them armed with machetes and rifles. It was terrifying,' he said. The ADF, an Islamist group linked to Islamic State, has been responsible for years of violence in eastern DR Congo. Despite joint military operations by Ugandan and Congolese forces since 2021, the group continues to carry out brutal attacks. At a funeral in Komanda, mourners criticized security forces for failing to protect civilians. 'What are the security services doing? They're not doing their job,' one woman told AFP. MONUSCO deputy chief Vivian van de Perre condemned the attack, calling it 'revolting' and a violation of international humanitarian law. The Congolese army accused the ADF of seeking 'revenge on defenceless populations.' Pope Leo XIV expressed grief over the killings, while France condemned the attack and pledged support for Congolese authorities. - AFP
