A horrific act of violence in eastern Congo has left 49 Christians dead and dozens more traumatized after armed militants stormed a Catholic church during an overnight prayer service. The attack, which took place in the Ituri province town of Komanda, is being blamed on the Islamic State–linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group notorious for brutal assaults across the region.
According to local officials, the massacre occurred around 1 a.m. as congregants gathered for a vigil. Witnesses reported the attackers entered silently, wielding machetes and knives, and began a rampage that spared no one, including nine children. Survivors described scenes of chaos and devastation, with many too frightened to speak publicly.
Pope Leo XIV, through a message delivered by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, strongly condemned the killings. He called the event “a senseless slaughter” and offered prayers for the victims, expressing hope that their deaths would inspire peace and healing in a nation long haunted by conflict.
The massacre has drawn international outrage. Humanitarian groups and world leaders are calling for urgent action to protect religious minorities and bring the perpetrators to justice. The United Nations condemned the violence and emphasized that attacks on places of worship constitute serious violations of international law.
The ADF, a militia operating in eastern Congo and Uganda, has intensified its operations in recent years under the banner of the Islamic State. Their campaign has included attacks on villages, refugee camps, and now, sacred religious spaces.
This latest tragedy has once again spotlighted the fragile security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where communities remain vulnerable to insurgent violence despite ongoing military efforts to contain it. The church attack serves as a chilling reminder of the human toll that continues to mount in a region desperate for peace.