70 Christians Killed in Brutal Attack in DRC—Call for Prayer Amid Rising Persecution
Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are mourning yet another horrific act of violence, as 70 believers were brutally killed in the country’s northeast.
According to field reports, at around 4 a.m. last Thursday (February 13), suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS), raided homes in Mayba, Lubero territory. They ordered residents to come out quietly, capturing 20 Christian men and women.
In the wake of this abduction, the local community gathered to discuss ways to secure their release. However, ADF militants soon surrounded the village, taking another 50 Christians captive. All 70 were later taken to a Protestant church in Kasanga, where they were tragically executed.
Muhindo Musunzi, director of Kombo Primary School (affiliated with the CECA20 church), shared that churches, schools, and health centers had already shut down due to the deteriorating security situation. “We had to move all activities to Vunying,” he explained.
Until Tuesday (February 18), insecurity in the area prevented some families from burying their loved ones. Many Christians have now fled the region, fearing for their safety.
“We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres,” lamented an elder of the CECA20 church. “May God’s will alone be done.”
Increasing Violence and Displacement
This latest attack highlights the growing threat posed by ADF militants in the DRC’s northeast. Since 2014, the group has intensified its assaults, expanding from Beni territory in North Kivu province to Irumu and Mambasa in Ituri province—and now to Lubero.
In just the past month, more than 200 people have been killed in Baswagha chiefdom, according to a local news report.
As a result, the DRC has risen six places to rank 35th in the latest World Watch List of persecuted countries. Last year alone, 355 Christians were killed for their faith, up from 261 the previous year. An estimated 10,000 people were internally displaced—ten times more than in 2023. Many Christian homes have been looted and burned, schools forced to relocate, churches and health centers closed, and entire villages abandoned.
The activities of the M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda, have further worsened the vulnerability of Christians in the region.
A Call to Prayer
Open Doors has strongly condemned this brutal attack on civilians and is urging governments, civil societies, and international organizations to prioritize the protection of civilians in eastern DRC, where armed groups like the ADF continue to operate.
“The violence persists in an environment of impunity, where accountability is almost nonexistent,” says John Samuel*, a legal expert for Open Doors’ work in sub-Saharan Africa. “This massacre is a clear indication of widespread human rights violations against civilians, particularly Christians, by ADF—a [so-called Islamic State] affiliate.”
He continues, “We call on the global Christian community to stand in prayer for believers and vulnerable communities in eastern DRC. Pray for an end to the violence, for leaders at all levels to respond with diligence, impartiality, and transparency, and for the church in Lubero as it seeks to provide both physical and spiritual support to the affected families.”