Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing a surge of targeted, faith‑based violence — and the world must not remain silent.

14.05.2026

Across eastern DRC, communities are being terrorised by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group aligned with the so‑called Islamic State. This organisation, responsible for severe harm, loss of life, and widespread human rights violations, promotes a violent form of Islamic fundamentalism and has repeatedly framed its attacks as assaults on Christians.

Pic: Opendoors

In September 2025, ADF militants stormed a funeral wake in Ntoyo, North Kivu, murdering more than 60 people. One survivor, still shaken, was reported to have said simply: “I had never seen so many bodies.” Only weeks earlier, at least 40 believers were killed during a nighttime prayer vigil in Komanda, Ituri. These were not combatants. They were ordinary Christians gathered to mourn, to pray, and to seek God together.

While Christians make up the vast majority of victims, the militants have also attacked Muslims they consider “unfaithful,” revealing that this campaign is ultimately an assault on freedom of conscience itself.

For Christians, religious liberty is not merely a political principle, it is the God‑given right of every person to seek truth, worship freely, and live out their faith without fear regardless what they believe. When that freedom is crushed, human dignity is wounded, and the global Church is called to respond.

Authorities in the DRC, along with the international community, must act decisively to protect vulnerable communities and confront this extremist violence. But the Church, too, has a role: to pray, to advocate, and to stand in solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters.

To explore ways to help, you might look into religious freedom advocacy or learn more about crisis response efforts.