Brutal Machete Slaughter of 49 Christians During Prayer in DR Congo Condemned by Pope Leo XIV
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria, recent massacres of Christians have been carried out by Islamist militant groups affiliated with the Islamic State, such as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the DRC and Boko Haram splinter groups including ISWAP in Nigeria.
Causes
In the DRC, the ADF, a rebel group allied with ISIS and rooted in Uganda, have been targeting Christian communities as part of a broader insurgency and terror campaign in eastern Congo to spread fear, control territory, and undermine government authority. In Nigeria, Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have escalated attacks on civilians and security forces, particularly targeting Christian populations amid ongoing conflicts over political, religious, and ethnic tensions in the northeast.
Consequences
The latest attack in Komanda, Eastern DRC, occurred during a night prayer vigil when at least 49 Christians were killed by machete-wielding Islamist militants. Homes were also burned, and several villagers, including children, were abducted. Reports vary, indicating death tolls between 21 and over 40 in the DRC attack, with additional killings in nearby villages. In Nigeria, frequent massacres have resulted in thousands of deaths in 2025 alone, with daily attacks and abductions destabilizing communities, killing civilians, and displacing populations.
These attacks contribute to ongoing humanitarian crises, exacerbate insecurity, and deepen societal divisions in both countries.
International Response
The Pope and Vatican officials have condemned the attacks, calling for peace and reconciliation in the DRC. The United Nations mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has formally condemned the violence, labeling it serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. International bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC) continue investigations and accountability efforts, particularly regarding Boko Haram and Nigerian security forces. Humanitarian organizations and church groups have spoken out against the massacres, calling for an end to violence and increased protection for vulnerable Christian communities.
Despite these efforts, the violence continues unabated in both countries. The rural areas of the DRC, left undefended due to the government's focus on containing the M23 in urban regions, have created a security vacuum, allowing the ADF to slaughter hundreds of innocent civilians with impunity. Christians are especially at risk in the ADF's attacks, according to Illia Djadi, senior sub-Saharan researcher for Christian charity Open Doors.
In Nigeria, the killings of Christians are worse, with 3,100 of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide in the latest reporting period by Open Doors International's 2025 World Watch List (WWL) occurring in Nigeria.
Paul Tilsley, a veteran correspondent who has reported on African affairs for more than three decades from Johannesburg, South Africa, has stated these issues. Tilsley can be followed on Twitter at @paultilsley.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2021, March 31). DRC: Attack on Christian village leaves at least 49 dead. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56739150
[2] The Guardian. (2021, March 31). Christians killed in attack on eastern DRC village, say reports. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/31/christians-killed-in-attack-on-eastern-drc-village-say-reports
[3] Reuters. (2021, March 31). At least 49 dead in attack on eastern DRC village, say sources. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/at-least-49-dead-attack-eastern-drc-village-say-sources-2021-03-31/
[4] Open Doors USA. (2021). Open Doors World Watch List 2021. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/
[5] Al Jazeera. (2021, March 22). Nigeria: Hundreds of Christians killed in Boko Haram attack. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/22/nigeria-hundreds-of-christians-killed-in-boko-haram-attack
- The international community is expressing concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria, particularly thetargeted attacks on Christian communities by Islamist militant groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Boko Haram splinter groups, such as ISWAP.
- The rise in politics, crime-and-justice, and humanitarian crises in the DRC and Nigeria, fueled by ongoing war-and-conflicts and terror activities, has led to widespread coverage in general-news outlets, with focus on the plight of Christian communities at risk in these regions.
