ISIS-linked rebels attack Catholic church in eastern Congo, killing at least 34 people.

Goma, July 27 — At least 34 people were killed when Islamic State-backed rebels attacked a Catholic church in eastern Congo early Sunday morning, according to local officials.

The attack happened around 1 a.m. in Komanda town, Ituri province. Dieudonne Duranthabo, a local civil society leader, said the rebels stormed the church, killing dozens and burning several nearby houses and shops. He added that volunteers are now preparing a mass grave in the church compound to bury the victims.

Videos shared online showed burning buildings and bodies inside the church. Survivors and relatives of the victims could be seen grieving at the scene.

In a separate incident, five people were also killed in a nearby village called Machongani. Many others were abducted, and their whereabouts remain unknown, according to Lossa Dhekana, another local leader.

The attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group known for brutal attacks and linked to the Islamic State. The ADF fighters were reportedly armed with guns and machetes.

The Congolese army confirmed at least 10 deaths in the church attack, while UN-backed Radio Okapi reported 43 deaths based on security sources. The rebels are believed to have come from a stronghold about 12 kilometers from Komanda and fled before the army arrived.

Duranthabo criticized the lack of security response in a town where, he said, security officials are stationed. He called for immediate military action, warning that the rebels are still nearby.

Eastern Congo has faced ongoing violence for years from armed groups like the ADF and M23 rebels, the latter allegedly supported by neighboring Rwanda. The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the late 1990s, moved into Congo in 2002 and has since been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians. In 2019, the group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Despite efforts, the Congolese army has struggled to contain the ADF, especially with rising tensions involving other armed groups in the region.

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