Violent Attack on Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations and the Pope, Leo XIV, have condemned a brutal machete attack that killed at least 49 Christians during a prayer vigil in a church in the Eastern town of Komanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The attack, attributed to Islamic State (ISIS)-linked extremists, occurred on the early hours of last Sunday, while worshippers were gathered for a night prayer. The rebels, reportedly from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), stormed the church and began hacking Christians with machetes and other sharp weapons. The U.N. also reported that the attackers set fire to nearby homes, resulting in the death of nine children and the abduction of several villagers.
International Reaction and Condemnation
The U.S. State Department, Pope Leo XIV, and the United Nations have all issued strong condemnations of the attack on the Congolese Christians. According to the State Department, the ADF is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and has been linked to ISIS. The Pope condemned the attack, stating, ‘May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people.’ A Vatican Cardinal noted that the Pope learned of the attack with ‘dismay and deep sorrow,’ underscoring the gravity of the violence. The U.N.’s Stabilization Mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, expressed ‘deep outrage’ at the heinous acts, stressing that the violence represents serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.
Rising Persecution of Christians in Sub-Saharan Africa
Christian charity Open Doors, which advocates for persecuted Christians, highlighted the strategic nature of the ADF’s violence. Illia Djadi, a senior researcher for the organization, explained that the ADF has a clear aim of turning parts of the DRC into an Islamic caliphate, similar to those established by ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Djadi warned that the presence of ISIS-linked groups across sub-Saharan Africa has made it the new epicenter of jihadism, with Christians, who make up the majority of the population, facing the greatest risk. Despite President Trump’s peace initiative between the DRC and Rwanda, Djadi said that Christians in the east of the country remain vulnerable due to security vacuums created by the government’s focus on urban areas.
Context of Recent Violence and Global Trends
The attack in the DRC is part of a broader pattern of violence against Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, where a separate attack in February reportedly resulted in the beheading of 70 Christians in a church. According to the Open Doors International World Watch List, of the 4,476 Christians killed globally in its latest reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria. The Pope has also expressed his concern over the situation in Nigeria, where he reported in June that 200 people were murdered with ‘extraordinary cruelty.’ Djadi emphasized that the global Christian community needs to pay attention to the escalating persecution of believers in the region, as these attacks continue to threaten the safety of religious minorities.