Islamic State Affiliate Targets Churchgoers in Deadly DR Congo Attack

Sun Oct 19 2025 04:45:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Dozens are killed in a brutal assault by the Allied Democratic Forces during a church vigil in Komanda.

An attack by the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in multiple deaths, primarily targeting worshippers at a night vigil. Local authorities report that around 20 individuals lost their lives as violence escalates in the region, raising concerns over security.

Dozens of people have fallen victim to a horrific attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an affiliate of the Islamic State, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Reports indicate that around 20 victims were worshippers attending a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were ambushed by ADF combatants, leading to widespread panic and chaos as surrounding businesses were looted and set ablaze.

The ADF, initially emerging in Uganda in the 1990s, has since relocated its operations across the border into DR Congo. The group, which claims to represent Muslim interests, now frequently attacks civilians from all faiths in both countries. It has integrated into the Islamic State's Central African Province, which expands further with an affiliate operating in Mozambique. Research indicates that nearly 90% of Islamic State's activities are now affiliated with various groups across Africa.

Local civil society coordinator Dieudonne Duranthabo relayed grim news to the Associated Press, stating that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue. "More than 21 people were shot dead inside and outside [the church] and we have recorded at least three charred bodies and several houses burned," he noted.

Father Aime Lokana Dhego, a priest in the area, provided further insight, reporting at least 31 casualties among members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement and six individuals seriously injured. He mentioned that some youth were abducted during the attack, with their whereabouts currently unknown. The UN-backed Radio Okapi has reported as many as 43 lives lost, although army representatives have confirmed only 10 deaths so far.

In an effort to curb the growing threat of the ADF, the DR Congo government invited Ugandan forces into the region in 2021, but incidents of violence remain alarmingly frequent. Komanda, located in the mineral-rich Ituri province of DR Congo, has been a site of persistent conflict involving various armed groups, raising urgent questions about security and community safety in the area.