Tragic Catholic Church Shooting in Congo, Leaving 43 Worshippers Dead within the House of Faith
In the early morning hours of July 27, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist militia group linked to the Islamic State, launched a devastating attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, a commercial hub connecting Tshopo, North Kivu, and Maniema provinces. The attack targeted faithful gathered for a youth retreat, using firearms and machetes, resulting in the death of at least 43 people, including children.
The tragic event occurred during a night prayer vigil, catching the congregation by surprise as they prepared for the Sunday service. The United Nations' mission in Congo, MONUSCO, detailed that the casualties included 19 women, 15 men, and nine children. The attack was a deliberate desecration of the Catholic church in Lopa, part of a series of violent attacks announced and claimed by the CODECO spokesperson.
Following the attack, victims were buried in a mass grave on July 28 after a funeral Mass at the Komanda church. The pope, Pope Leo, expressed his deep sorrow over the attack in a telegram on the same day. He called for efforts towards the integral human development of the wounded population in the region.
The ADF militia, originally launched in Uganda in 1995, currently operates in the mountainous region between Uganda and Congo. The group has been recruiting child soldiers, maiming, killing, and raping women and children. In 2019, the militant group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and increased its attacks.
The leaders of the ADF militia responsible for the brutal attack are primarily believed to be Musa Baluku and his predecessors, including Jamil Mukulu. The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee has condemned the attack, stating that the militant group killed innocent worshippers during an overnight prayer vigil.
The latest attacks are part of the ongoing deadly cycle of conflict in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu of eastern Congo, fueled by regional politics, ethnic and national rivalries, and a fight for control of mineral resources. Another militia known as CODECO had desecrated the St. John of Capistrano in Lopa, in Ituri, on July 21.
Vivian van de Perre, deputy special representative of the secretary general in Congo, has stated that the targeted attacks against defenseless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are in violation of all human rights standards and international law. The pope's call for action is a reminder that the protection of innocent lives and the preservation of peace and unity must remain a priority in these troubled times.
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