70 Christians Decapitated in Church in Democratic Republic of Congo
We must not forget the persecution of Christians in Africa. If you encounter any of these stories, please send them to me on X: @mchastain81.
Militants decapitated 70 Christians in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on February 13.
The victims reportedly include women, children, and the elderly.
No group has taken responsibility, but reports indicate they belong to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has ties to ISIS. From Open Doors UK:
According to field sources, at around 4am last Thursday (13 February) suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – a group with ties to so-called Islamic State (IS) – approached homes in Mayba in the territory of Lubero, saying: “Get out, get out and don’t make any noise.” Twenty Christian men and women came out and were captured.Shaken by this incident, people from the local community in Mayba later gathered to work out how to release those held captive. However, ADF militants surrounded the village and captured a further 50 believers.All 70 of those kidnapped were taken to a Protestant church in Kasanga where they were tragically killed.
One report said the murder happened three days after the kidnapping.
Field sources reported that many of the families have not been able to bury their loved ones due to insecurity.
Many Christians have left the area, too.
The majority of the Congo population identifies as Christian, and yet they remain a top target. Why? Islamic terrorist groups:
- Christians face severe persecution and violence frequently from Islamist militants the ADF, especially in the eastern region. Allied with the Islamic State group, the ADF abduct and kill Christians and attack churches, leading to widespread terror, insecurity and displacement.
- The M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda, also targets Christian civilians, making the situation even worse.
- Conversion from Islam is considered shameful by families and communities, and this is often a source of persecution and pressure.
The Congo does not have “specific laws to protect Christian women and girls, making them vulnerable to domestic violence and forced marriages.”
But it’s not just ADF.
The Rwanda-backed armed group M23 has been ravaging DRC since December 2024.
The State Department addressed the situation today.
“The United States is sanctioning today two individuals and two entities linked to violence and human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),” State spokesperson Tammy Bruce wrote in a press release. “This action includes designation of Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration James Kabarebe and the M23 and the Congo River Alliance spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston, alongside two of Kanyuka’s companies, Kingston Fresh and Kingston Holding.”
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