Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on east Congo church

29/7/2025 6:51

The Islamic State militant group on Monday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack that a U.N. mission said had killed at least 43 worshippers during a night mass at a church in eastern Congo.



At dawn on Sunday, Islamic State-allied rebels stormed the church in Komanda, a village located around 75 kilometers from Ituri's provincial capital Bunia, killing people with guns and machetes and taking captives.



Islamic State said on its Telegram channel that rebels had killed some 45 churchgoers and burned dozens of homes and shops.



The U.N. mission known as MONUSCO said at least 43 people had been killed, including 19 women and nine children, while condemning the attack carried out by the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).