Islamic State-Linked Attack In Congo Kills At Least 25; Eastern Violence Raises Persecution Concerns

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

GOMA (Worthy News) – At least 25 people, were killed early Sunday in a “brutal attack” by an Islamic State-linked militant group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local rights groups and officials said, as violence continues to plague the region.

Sunday’s assault was attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group operating for years along the porous border between Uganda and eastern Congo.

Fifteen men were burned alive inside a house, and seven others were shot in the village of Apakulu in Irumu territory, while three more deaths were reported in the nearby Walese Vonkutu area, according to Christophe Munyanderu, president of the Convention for the Respect of Human Rights.

The victims are believed to include Christians, according a Worthy News assessment, though authorities have declined to provide religious and faith backgrounds of those who died. “This tragedy occurred around 4 a.m. and claimed the lives of at least 25 people. This incursion by the ADF is a true massacre,” Munyanderu said, describing the early-morning raid.

There was no immediate statement from the ADF, but its involvement follows a pattern of deadly raids carried out by the group in eastern Congo in recent months, including attacks that killed more than 100 people last July.

REGION FACING BROADER INSECURITY

The broader eastern Congo region has suffered persistent insecurity, with multiple armed groups — including the ADF and the Rwanda-linked M23 rebels — responsible for attacks that have killed civilians, displaced communities, and undermined safety.

The ADF originated in Uganda as an insurgency opposing President Yoweri Museveni’s government before being driven into Congolese territory under military pressure years ago.

Joint operations by Ugandan and Congolese forces have targeted the group, but its fighters have remained active and lethal.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is ranked 29th on the Open Doors World Watch List of 50 nations where Christians face the most severe persecution, a position influenced by ongoing violence by groups such as the ADF that deliberately target Christian communities and places of worship.

Open Doors analysts say Christians in eastern Congo face not only attacks and massacres but also abductions, displacement, and the destruction of churches, contributing to rising pressure on believers to abandon their faith or flee their homes.

CONFLICT WORSENING IN DRC

The DRC’s ranking on the annual World Watch List has climbed in recent years due to worsening conflict involving armed groups, including those reportedly backed by foreign actors, threats against Christians and congregations, and mass displacement.

The DRC’s military and United Nations peacekeeping forces have publicly denounced ADF violence and renewed calls for stronger protection of civilians, but critics say security remains fragile.

In recent years, the ADF has become more extreme due to links to the Islamic State (ISIS) group, which refers to the area as part of its so-called “Central Africa Province,” according to experts.

The group’s agenda includes spreading Islamist jihadist ideology and targeting Christians and other local communities, Worthy News established.

Investigations into Sunday’s attack were expected, even as communities mourned and recovery efforts continued.

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