Over seventy Christians were found beheaded inside a Protestant church in the village of Kasanga, Lubero territory, marking one of the deadliest assaults on believers in the country’s troubled northeast Congo last week. The massacre, allegedly carried out by militants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS), has sent shockwaves across the region.
According to field reports, the attack began in the early hours of February 13, when suspected ADF militants stormed homes in the village of Mayba, instructing residents: “Get out, get out and don’t make any noise.”
Twenty Christian men and women were forcibly taken hostage. Later, as villagers gathered to discuss rescue efforts, the militants launched another wave of abductions, capturing an additional 50 believers.
The captives were taken to Kasanga, where they were executed inside a church. Witnesses described the gruesome scene, stating that the victims were beheaded in what appeared to be a premeditated act of terror aimed at instilling fear within the Christian community.
Seventy Christians were found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They were reportedly hostages of the Islamist group ADF— an ISIS affiliate
Why isn’t the MSM covering this story?? pic.twitter.com/57P6fDc2fF
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 20, 2025
The atrocity has plunged the region into deeper chaos, with many families unable to bury their loved ones due to ongoing security threats. Schools, churches, and healthcare centres in Lubero had already shut down amid escalating violence. Muhindo Musunzi, director of the Kombo Primary School, which is affiliated with the CECA20 church, lamented the deteriorating security conditions, stating: “We had to move all activities towards Vunying.”
Many Christians have since fled the area, seeking refuge elsewhere. “We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres,” a CECA20 church elder expressed in despair. “May God’s will alone be done.”
The latest massacre underscores the relentless expansion of ADF attacks in eastern DRC. Initially active in Beni territory of North Kivu province, the group has gradually extended its reign of terror into Ituri province, affecting Irumu and Mambasa. The violence has now reached Lubero, further destabilising the region.
According to local reports, more than 200 people were killed in Baswagha chiefdom last month alone.
HEARTBREAKING: Seventy Christians have been found beheaded by Islamist militant in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Suspected ADF militants with ties to ISIS approached homes in Mayba, Lubero, urging people to “get out and don’t make any noise.” They captured 20… pic.twitter.com/Ivk4PvEa73
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) February 20, 2025
The escalation of violence has led to a significant increase in the persecution of Christians. The DRC recently climbed six places to number 35 on the World Watch List of countries where Christians face extreme persecution.
In 2024, at least 355 Christians were killed for their faith, compared to 261 the previous year. Furthermore, an estimated 10,000 people have been internally displaced, a tenfold increase from 2023. Churches, homes, and schools have been torched, and entire Christian villages have been abandoned.
John Samuel, a legal expert with Open Doors for Sub-Saharan Africa, condemned the attack, calling it a clear case of “widespread human rights violations against civilians, particularly targeting Christians.” He urged international civil societies, governments, and organisations to prioritise the protection of civilians in eastern DRC, where armed groups operate with near-total impunity.
Please pray – 70 people have been found beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We further call on the international Christian community to remain in prayer for Christians and vulnerable communities in eastern DRC,” says a contact.https://t.co/HlhzAUNvOV
— Open Doors UK (@OpenDoorsUK) February 18, 2025
“The violence takes place in a context of impunity, where almost no one is held accountable,” Samuel said. “We call on the international Christian community to remain in prayer for Christians and vulnerable communities in eastern DRC. Pray for an end to violence and for governments at all levels to diligently and transparently address these atrocities.”
The ADF’s insurgency is not the only threat destabilising the DRC. In late January, the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group seized control of Goma, one of the country’s largest cities, sparking riots in the capital, Kinshasa, where embassies were attacked. Since then, fighting has escalated, with M23 rebels advancing to Bukavu, a major city in the eastern region.
The ongoing conflict between M23 and the Congolese army has resulted in thousands of deaths, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Analysts warn that the combined threats from ADF and M23 could plunge the DRC into deeper instability unless urgent international intervention is taken.
Originally based in western Uganda, the ADF has operated in the DRC’s North Kivu province since the late 1990s. The group’s violent activities have intensified over the past decade, with its influence now reaching beyond Beni into Lubero, Irumu, and Mambasa. Their systematic targeting of Christian communities underscores their broader agenda of establishing extremist control over the region.
With security conditions worsening and extremist groups expanding their influence, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the crisis in eastern DRC. The Christian community, already reeling from years of persecution, now faces an existential threat in the region.
Comments