DR Congo: At least 47 killed in church attack

At least 47 people have been killed and 15 others injured in an attack on a church in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The attack, allegedly carried out by suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) using firearms and machetes, occurred during a prayer vigil at a Catholic church in the city of Komanda, between the night of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday, July 27. According to military officials, the alarm was raised around 2 a.m. after smoke was seen rising from burning houses. By the time security forces arrived, the attackers had fled. Re

At least 47 people have been killed and 15 others injured in an attack on a church in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The attack, allegedly carried out by suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) using firearms and machetes, occurred during a prayer vigil at a Catholic church in the city of Komanda, between the night of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday, July 27. According to military officials, the alarm was raised around 2 a.m. after smoke was seen rising from burning houses. By the time security forces arrived, the attackers had fled. Reports indicate the assailants left their stronghold at Mount Hoyo and traveled along Bogi Road, approximately 12 kilometers from Komanda’s center, to carry out the assault. ALSO RAED: DRC: Ugandan Army captures big ADF camp holding over 1,500 people DRC’s Radio Okapi initially reported the death toll at 43, attributing the attack to the ADF. “More than 20 victims were killed with bladed weapons during a prayer vigil in a church,” the station reported. “Other bodies were found in nearby burned houses.” The ADF, a rebel group linked to ISIL (ISIS), operates in the border regions between Uganda and the DRC and is known for repeated attacks on civilians. The group was formed in the late 1990s by various dissident factions in Uganda. Following military operations by Ugandan forces in 2002, the ADF relocated to the DRC, where it has since been responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. In 2019, the group formally pledged allegiance to ISIL. In November 2021 by the armed forces of Uganda ,UPDF, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ,FARDC, launched a joint military operation , Operation Shujaa, to target the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The operation involves airstrikes, artillery bombardments, and ground offensives mainly in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, aiming to dismantle ADF camps, cut off supply lines, and restore security in the region.