In a harrowing development in the Democratic Republic of Congo, seventy individuals were found beheaded in a church located in the abandoned village of Kasanga over the weekend. Authorities say the grim discovery marks the latest brutal attack on Christians in the country’s northeast.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the victims were taken hostage by the Islamist extremist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is linked to the so-called Islamic State.
The hostages were reportedly detained for several days before being executed, adding to the mounting toll of violence in North Kivu province—a region that has seen increased militant activity in recent times.
The incident follows a series of ADF attacks last week that forced the evacuation of several villages in the Lumbero Territory. Many of the bodies found in Kasanga have been identified as those who went missing after these recent assaults.
John Samuel, legal expert for Open Doors in sub-Saharan Africa, condemned the massacre. “Open Doors strongly condemns this heinous act of violence against civilians. We call on civil societies, governments, and international organizations to prioritize the protection of civilians in eastern DRC where armed groups like the ADF operate,” he stated. Samuel added that the violence occurs in an atmosphere of impunity, highlighting systemic human rights abuses against vulnerable communities, particularly Christians.
Recent data indicate a disturbing rise in faith-related violence in the country. The DRC has climbed six places to number 35 on the World Watch List, with 355 Christians killed last year—a significant increase from 261 the previous year—and an estimated 10,000 people internally displaced, a figure ten times higher than in 2023. The situation has been further aggravated by the activities of the M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda.
“We further call on the international Christian community to remain in prayer for Christians and vulnerable communities in eastern DRC,” Samuel added. “Pray for an end to the violence and that governments at all levels address this crisis diligently, impartially, and transparently. Pray for the church in the Lumbero Territory as it strives to provide both physical and spiritual assistance to the affected families.”
Local Christians are in deep despair. “We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres,” an elder of the local CECA20 church told reporters. “May God’s will alone be done.”
