Congo church attack victims buried
Twenty-four victims of a recent church attack in eastern Congo were buried in a mass grave in the village of Komanda, following a brutal assault by Islamic State-affiliated militants. The attack occurred during a midnight vigil at a Catholic church, where armed rebels stormed the service, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 individuals, including women and children. The attackers used guns and machetes, and also set fire to numerous homes and businesses in the area.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack through its Telegram channel, stating that approximately 45 churchgoers were killed. Local residents reported that many villagers remain missing or were abducted during the violence. The U.N. mission in the region condemned the assault, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with roots in Uganda that has been responsible for frequent attacks in eastern Congo.
In the aftermath, mourners gathered for funeral proceedings, with volunteers loading coffins onto vehicles and families laying garlands over the graves. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from local civil society leaders, who described it as a mass atrocity and called for immediate military intervention to address the escalating violence in a region that is supposed to be secured by security forces.
This incident follows a recent U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which includes provisions for troop withdrawal and joint security measures. Despite these efforts, the ADF continues to destabilize the region, posing a significant challenge to peace and security. The Pope also expressed condolences and prayers for the affected families and the Christian community in the wake of this tragic event.
