At least 49 Christians killed in DRC as they gathered to pray

The weekend saw yet another devastating attack in eastern DRC, with at least 40 Christians killed as they gathered for prayer. Please pray.

At least 49 Christians who had gathered for a night prayer vigil at a church were killed when Islamist militants Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The incident took place in Komanda, a small town in Ituri provice, in the early hours of Sunday morning (27 July), with people both inside and outside the Catholic church targeted. Nearby shops, businesses and homes were attacked and looted. Security forces received news at around 2am, but when they arrived, the militants had already left the area. 

“They killed some believers who were in the church hall. Those who tried to flee were caught at the door and slaughtered in the compound. Others who made it to the road were also caught and killed,” says an Open Doors local partner, who visited the community after the attack to offer encouragement and support.

Number killed could be higher

The initial number confirmed to have been killed has gradually grown in the days since, with more than 49 Christians now confirmed to have been killed. The number may be even higher. “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,” said Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, on 27 July.

The ADF also took at least 20 children hostage. Before retreating, they looted businesses and set shops, houses and cars ablaze.

“I held the hand of a woman whose child had been abducted,” says an Open Doors local partner. “I told her not to despair, to continue trusting God, because He is the God who makes the impossible possible. I told her not to lose hope, that she was not alone, and that we are praying for her and her child.”

“Let us help each other more with prayer so that the children return home, so that we can see them again,” says Kavugho Malasi, whose 12-year-old daughter, Christine was kidnapped in Komanda.

• What’s it like to be a Christian in DRC?

It’s also believed that at least five others were killed in Machongani, a nearby village, in an earlier incident. These are the latest in a series of attacks in the region in July, with around 80 people said to have been killed in total.  

Who is behind the attack?

The group behind the attack, ADF, has links with so-called Islamic State (IS). Despite a joint military operation by DRC and Uganda to address their threat, the group continues to pursue their Islamist agenda in eastern DRC.

“They’re targeting Christians, and because they have this Islamist ideology and plan to establish a caliphate the same way IS did – they are like an IS in eastern DRC,” says Illia Djadi, Senior Analyst for Freedom of Religion or Belief in sub-Saharan Africa for Open Doors.

“They [ADF] are very strategic. They’re attacking farming communities – defenceless communities where there’s no security presence,” continues Illia, explaining how the group are taking advantage of a power vacuum in the area where a plethora of armed groups are active.

Displaced, bereaved and traumatised

“Millions of people have been killed in eastern DRC and millions have been displaced,” he continues. “Something needs to be done from the DRC government, but also the international community to say this is not acceptable. People have been displaced – not once, not twice. They are in constant displacement. They have lost everything. The only thing they want is to live in peace.”

Open Doors local partners have already responded, Illia confirms. “Open Doors is active there, through our network of local partners,” he says. “They’re already on the scene in that village. The first response is providing relief material, in terms of food, but also we understand that dozens of people have been wounded. They need healing, they need trauma counselling – they need everything.”

Calls for government to act

“Open Doors strongly condemns the attack on Christians peacefully participating in a church programme and civilians in the town of Komanda,” adds Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors spokesperson for the work in sub-Saharan Africa. “We call on government at all levels to keep civilians safe and bring to justice to all who are found to be involved in these acts of brutality.

“Thousands of people have already been affected by the violence in eastern DRC and are living in constant flux – bereaved and severely traumatised. The immediate and long-term human cost of the violence must not be allowed to continue in this manner. All human beings have the right to protection no matter their faith, ethnicity or gender.”

“We further call on the international Christian community to remain in prayer over the ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC. Pray for an end to the Islamist radical violence as government at all levels diligently, impartially and transparently address the violence and its effects. Pray for provision for the church in eastern DRC as she seeks to bring physical and spiritual assistance to the affected.”