Islamic extremists kill at least 64 at Catholic church in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Islamic extremists allegedly attacked people in a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sept. 8-9, leaving at least 64 dead.

The attack took place at the parish of Saint Joseph of Manguredjipa, in the province of North Kivu, according to Aid to the Church in Need, an international Catholic pastoral aid organization. The act of terror has been attributed to Islamic extremist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Many of those killed were attending a wake at the church. The attackers shot those gathered with firearms and attacked them with hammers. Some homes were set on fire. Local authorities are burying the victims and say that they intend to put new security measures in place, according to Aid to the Church in Need.

“To all the families affected by this umpteenth and horrible carnage… and to all the faithful of the parish, we express our spiritual closeness,” said Bishop Melchisédech Sikuli Paluko of Butembo-Beni in the wake of the attack, according to Aid to the Church in Need. “May God, the Master of Life, strengthen us through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, consoler of the afflicted, and lead us beyond the desert of present-day suffering to lasting peace.”

The ADF is a radical Islamist insurgent group from Uganda. The group has been responsible for acts of terror and violence in eastern Congo, mainly against civilians. Many attacks have targeted Christian places of worship. In July, 49 people were killed at another Catholic parish in the region, as CatholicVote previously reported.

“The situation in eastern Congo can only be described as dire,” Aid to the Church in Need said in a statement condemning the attack. “The violence has intensified all over the region of North and South Kivu, leading to massive displacement of populations and a serious humanitarian crisis. Although many provinces have been under martial law for years, with a heavy presence of Congolese armed forces, Ugandan troops, and a UN mission, the attacks continue.”

As of 2020, the World Religion Database estimated that more than 95% of those living in the DRC were Christian, according to the U.S. Department of State.

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