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By Andrew Stanton
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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.
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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.
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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.
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