At least 60 Christians killed in jihadist attack in northeastern Congo

Extremist violence continues to plague eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 60 Christians were killed in the town of Bafwakoa, in the Ituri region, during an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to the Islamic State in Central Africa. According to various reports from international media and religious organizations, the assailants stormed the town at night and attacked civilians inside their homes and in the streets.

The ADF has been operating in eastern Congo for years and is responsible for numerous attacks against civilians. Although they originated in Uganda in the 1990s, they later pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and expanded their terrorist activity to several border areas of Central Africa. Congolese authorities acknowledge that the security situation remains very fragile, especially in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

The Bafwakoa attack is the latest in a series of massacres recorded in recent weeks. In May alone, other attacks attributed to this group left dozens dead in various villages in the northeast of the country. Humanitarian organizations and local leaders report that many communities are left unprotected due to the limited military presence and the slow response of security forces.

The persecution of Christian communities is increasingly worrying international organizations dedicated to religious freedom. Several entities warn that the attacks include murders, kidnappings, arson, and the destruction of churches. Meanwhile, the civilian population remains trapped in an armed conflict that has been destabilizing eastern Congo for years and causing thousands of displacements.