Dozens of individuals were brutally attacked with machetes during a funeral gathering in Congo by militants belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group linked to the Islamic State. The assault, considered one of the deadliest carried out by the ADF, resulted in a death toll of at least 50 people according to local official Macaire Sivikunula. The victims were taken by surprise during a mourning ceremony in the village of Ntoyo around 9 pm, with most of them being killed using machetes. The search for more victims is ongoing, with military administrator Colonel Alain Kiwewa indicating that the toll could rise as additional bodies are discovered.
The ADF, originally from Uganda and having sworn allegiance to ISIS in 2019, has frequently targeted civilians in North Kivu using machetes and firearms. In recent months, the group has carried out multiple attacks resulting in over 50 deaths, including a massacre of 43 individuals, including children, at a Catholic youth retreat in Komanda. During that incident, residences and shops were set ablaze while Catholic worshippers were attending a prayer vigil at the church, operated by the Caritas charity.
Human rights activist Christophe Munyanderu noted that the rebels specifically targeted Christians present at the Catholic church, resulting in fatalities by machetes or gunfire. DRC’s Radio Okapi attributed the deaths of 43 individuals to the ADF, highlighting that more than 20 victims were killed with bladed weapons during a prayer service at the church, while other bodies were discovered in burnt structures nearby.
DRC army spokesperson Jules Ngongo reported an armed incursion by machete-wielding assailants at a church close to Komanda. The international community, with Pope Leo expressing deep sorrow and the UN condemning the ADF for violating international law, has denounced the group’s actions. Despite collaborative military efforts between Congo and Uganda, the ADF persists in launching attacks, leading to a humanitarian crisis with mass displacements, shattered communities, and stalled peace negotiations.
The Islamic State’s influence continues to expand in Africa, fueled by factors such as poverty, unrest, and weak governance.