MONUSCO Condemns Brutal Church Attack in DR Congo That Killed 43, Including Children

More than 40 people including nine children were massacred during a night vigil at a church in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in an attack claimed by the Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO has strongly condemned the atrocity, describing it as a violation of international humanitarian law.

Attack at Night Vigil in Ituri Province

The attack unfolded in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Komanda, located in DRC’s volatile Ituri province. Worshippers had gathered for a night vigil when fighters from the ADF, wielding machetes and crude weapons, stormed the church and surrounding areas, killing 43 civilians.

At least 15 people were left seriously wounded, and several others were abducted. Businesses and shops in the area were looted and set on fire, further devastating the local community.

“This was an appalling and calculated assault on innocent civilians gathered in a sacred space,” said Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Acting Head of MONUSCO. “These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law.”

A Pattern of Escalating Violence

The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group from the 1990s, has since shifted operations to the eastern regions of the DRC, where it has grown increasingly deadly and aligned itself with the so-called Islamic State. The group is notorious for attacking civilians and has recently intensified its activities in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

This recent atrocity follows another attack by the same group in early July in Ituri, where 47 people were killed in a similarly brutal fashion. MONUSCO and human rights organizations have repeatedly raised alarms over the ADF’s growing presence and its impact on local populations.

Last week, MONUSCO warned of a resurgence in violence across the region by the ADF and other armed groups. The mission called for all foreign armed elements operating within the DRC to immediately and unconditionally disarm and return to their countries of origin.

International and National Response

In response to the attack, MONUSCO reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians in cooperation with the Congolese authorities. Peacekeeping forces continue to patrol the region, but the scale and frequency of attacks underline the challenges of maintaining security in such a fragmented and insurgent-heavy environment.

“We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Ituri during this tragic time,” added van de Perre. “Our mission will not relent in supporting efforts to restore peace and hold those responsible accountable.”

Local civil society groups have echoed MONUSCO’s condemnation and called on both the Congolese government and the international community to strengthen protective measures and enhance intelligence gathering in the region.

A Nation in Mourning, A Call for Justice

As the community of Komanda buries its dead and mourns its losses, many in the DRC are left grappling with grief, fear, and unanswered questions. Why do such attacks continue with such regularity? What more can be done to prevent future atrocities?

The DRC has been plagued by cycles of violence from multiple armed groups for decades, but the increasing brutality and religious targeting by the ADF marks a worrying new dimension of terror.

While MONUSCO’s mandate includes the protection of civilians and support to state institutions, many Congolese continue to demand more effective, locally-driven security solutions and stronger regional cooperation to dismantle foreign armed networks operating within the country’s borders.

The Ituri massacre is a grim reminder of the urgent need for sustained peace efforts and meaningful international engagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As MONUSCO and Congolese forces rally to stabilize the region, the global community must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed in one of Africa’s most troubled regions.

Peace remains fragile. But for the people of Komanda and countless other communities living in fear, hope lies in justice, accountability, and lasting security.

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