In a horrifying incident on Thursday night, about 20 of the deceased were worshippers attending the Eucharistic Crusade movement's night vigil, according to local officials. The ADF, initially rooted in Uganda and now predominantly operating in the DRC, has escalated violence against civilians, resulting in looting and arson across the town.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society leader from Komanda, reported to the Associated Press that the death toll may rise as search efforts continue. “More than 21 individuals lost their lives both inside and outside [the church], with at least three charred bodies discovered along with destruction of several homes,” he said.
Local priest Father Aime Lokana Dhego added a grim update, asserting at least 31 members of his congregation had perished, six were severely injured, and several youth went missing after the attack. The UN's Radio Okapi estimated a higher toll of 43, while military sources only confirmed ten deaths.
The ADF has a notorious history of violence, having originally emerged in the 1990s amidst allegations of persecution of Muslims by the Ugandan government. Today, it operates out of the DRC as part of Islamic State’s Central African Province, which also extends to Mozambique. Despite the 2021 invitation for Ugandan troops to assist in combatting the ADF, attacks have continued unabated in the mineral-rich Ituri province, plagued by years of conflict and abundance of armed groups.
The ongoing violence underlines the severity of the security crisis in the region and the growing threat of Islamic State affiliates in Africa, with nearly 90% of their operations now occurring on the continent, according to BBC Monitoring.
For continued updates on the situation in DR Congo and surrounding regions, stay connected with RealTime Wire.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society leader from Komanda, reported to the Associated Press that the death toll may rise as search efforts continue. “More than 21 individuals lost their lives both inside and outside [the church], with at least three charred bodies discovered along with destruction of several homes,” he said.
Local priest Father Aime Lokana Dhego added a grim update, asserting at least 31 members of his congregation had perished, six were severely injured, and several youth went missing after the attack. The UN's Radio Okapi estimated a higher toll of 43, while military sources only confirmed ten deaths.
The ADF has a notorious history of violence, having originally emerged in the 1990s amidst allegations of persecution of Muslims by the Ugandan government. Today, it operates out of the DRC as part of Islamic State’s Central African Province, which also extends to Mozambique. Despite the 2021 invitation for Ugandan troops to assist in combatting the ADF, attacks have continued unabated in the mineral-rich Ituri province, plagued by years of conflict and abundance of armed groups.
The ongoing violence underlines the severity of the security crisis in the region and the growing threat of Islamic State affiliates in Africa, with nearly 90% of their operations now occurring on the continent, according to BBC Monitoring.
For continued updates on the situation in DR Congo and surrounding regions, stay connected with RealTime Wire.
