more than 30 dead in the attack of a church in the northeast of the country by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces

More than 30 people were killed in an attack on the Rebels Democratic Forces Allied (ADF. Consequently, for its English acronym), against a Catholic Church in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), learned the Agency France-Presse (AFP) from local officials and the parish priest.

During the night of Saturday. 26 to Sunday 27 July, the armed group formed at the origin of former Ugandan rebels and which made allegiance to the Islamic State group, attacked the blessed-animated parish of Komanda in the province of Ituri, according to local officials. Father Aimé Lokana Dhego. parish priest told AFP: “In the eyes, we have at least 31 dead among the members of the Eucharistic Crusade Movement, with six seriously injured (…), some young people were kidnapped, we have no news of them. »»

more than 30 dead attack

The priest added that seven other bodies had been discovered in the locality of Komanda. located approximately 75 kilometers south of Bunia, chief town of the province. “Yesterday night around 9 pm. we heard shots towards the parish”the ADFs made it foam, and “For the moment, we have seen 35 bodies”told AFP Dieudonné Katanabo, Umoja district leader, where the parish is located.

Several months of lull – More than 30 dead attack

This killing. takes place after months of lull in this Ituri region which adjoins the Ugandan border. The last major attack led by ADF dates more than 30 dead attack back to February; She had killed 23 people in the territory of Mambasa.

Also attributing this attack to the ADF rebels. Christophe Munyanderu, Coordinator of the NGO Convention for respect for human rights (CNCDH), a local organization, has advanced a provisional assessment “38 dead”.

Without commenting on the human balance sheet. Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, army spokesperson in Ituri, confirmed AFP the attack led by the ADF. The ADFs killed thousands of civilians. multiplied looting and murders in the northeast DRC despite the deployment of the Ugandan army (UPDF) alongside the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in the area.

This attack was “Firmly condemned” by Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who mentioned “More than 40 people” killed. “Places of worship must always be preserved and protected religious freedom”he added.

The locality of Komanda, in the territory of Irumu, is a crossroads which opens towards three other provinces (Tshopo, North Kivu and Maniema) in the eastern part of the DRC. At the end of 2021. Kampala and Kinshasa launched a joint military operation against the ADFs, called “Shujaa”, without so far to end their abuses.