Militants launch deadly assault on congregation in Congo, resulting in over 40 fatalities at a church
Violent Attack on Catholic Church in Eastern Congo Attributed to ADF Rebels
In a shocking act of violence, a Catholic church was targeted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, resulting in the death of at least 43 people, including nine children. The attack took place in the northeastern town of Komanda, a region that has seen a months-long period of calm before this tragic event.
The attack was reportedly carried out by the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, according to initial reports. The ADF, a long-standing insurgent group originating in Uganda, has been operating in eastern Congo and is responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians.
Vivian van de Perre, the mission's deputy chief, condemned the attack as revolting and contrary to all norms of human rights and international humanitarian law. The UN peacekeeping mission in the country, MONUSCO, also confirmed the attack.
The church was targeted during a time when worshippers were gathering for prayer, a act that is considered despicable by many. The Congolese military condemned the "large-scale massacre" on Sunday, stating that the ADF took "revenge on defenseless peaceful populations to spread terror."
The ADF often uses hatchets and machetes to carry out attacks, making them particularly brutal and deadly. In February, 23 people had died in an attack by the ADF in the province's Mambasa territory.
Many of these armed groups are focused on controlling the region's vast and valuable reserves of natural resources like coltan, cobalt, gold, and diamonds. The ADF, financially, has been funded through illegal mining and logging in eastern DRC.
The ADF has links to Islamist extremist groups including alleged collaboration with al-Shabaab, and in recent years has been associated with ISIS, referring to itself as Madina at-Tauheed Wau Mujahideen ("City of Monotheism and Holy Warriors").
Eastern Congo is considered one of the world's most dangerous regions, with nearly 130 different armed groups active across the country. Hostilities earlier this year between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group ended in a truce on July 19.
Later, the self-named "Islamic State" group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict in the region. The UN Security Council urges accountability for ADF attacks and underscores the importance of civilian protection and compliance with international law in the conflict zone.
- The violent attack on the Catholic church in Eastern Congo is an example of a conflict that contravenes international human rights norms and standards.
- This conflict in the world, particularly in Eastern Congo, often involves armed groups, such as the ADF rebels, who are focused on controlling valuable resources like coltan, cobalt, gold, and diamonds.
- Such conflicts, often marked by violence, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and politics, are associated with extremist groups like al-Shabaab and ISIS, as in the recent case of the ADF.
- The UN Security Council, in addressing the ongoing conflict in the region, emphasizes accountability for ADF attacks, the protection of civilians, and adherence to international law in the general-news of the world.
