Komanda: An attack on a church in Komanda in northeastern DR Congo resulted in the deaths of more than 30 worshippers, as reported by local officials. The assault occurred during a Saturday night service when rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group aligned with the Islamic State (IS), stormed the church, killing 31 attendees. Additionally, seven more bodies were found in the town, bringing the total number of fatalities to at least 35, marking the end of a period of relative calm in the region.
According to France24.com, the ADF, which originated from former Ugandan rebels and pledged allegiance to IS in 2019, targeted a Catholic church in Komanda, where worshippers had gathered for prayer. Residents informed AFP via telephone from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, about the brutal raid. Umoja neighborhood elder Dieudonne Katanabo stated, “Last night around 9 pm (1900 GMT), we heard gunfire near the parish church… so far we have seen 35 bodies.”
Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, an army spokesman in Ituri, confirmed the attack to AFP but refrained from commenting on the number of casualties. He did, however, indicate that the attackers were believed to be ADF rebels. The attack breaks a months-long period of peace in the Ituri region, which borders Uganda. The last significant assault by the ADF in the area occurred in February, resulting in 23 deaths in Mambasa territory.
Komanda, located in Irumu territory, serves as a commercial hub connecting Tshopo, North Kivu, and Maniema provinces. Despite joint military efforts by Ugandan and Congolese forces, known as Operation “Shujaa,” launched at the end of 2021 to combat the ADF, the group has continued its violent activities in northeastern DRC. The ADF, primarily composed of Ugandan Muslim rebels, has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians and has intensified its looting and killings in the region.