In the stillness of early Sunday morning, at 1 a.m., a wave of terror shattered the quiet town of Komanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As families gathered for a prayer vigil, extremists tied to the Islamic State’s Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stormed a church, unleashing a nightmare of violence. With knives and machetes, they mercilessly hacked to death nearly 50 men, women, and at least nine little children.

The horror didn’t end there. Homes were set ablaze, and several villagers were abducted, leaving a community gripped by fear and grief. This massacre is part of a disturbing and escalating pattern of Christian persecution in the region, with similar attacks recurring in recent months. The attack echoes a haunting pattern, including the reported beheading of 70 Christians in a church attack this February. Beyond the DRC, in June, roughly 200 displaced Nigerians receiving aid from a Catholic mission were slaughtered or burned alive by jihadist extremists as they slept.

Global leaders and organizations have united in condemnation. Pope Leo XIV solemnly declared, “May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people.” A U.S. State Department spokesperson, speaking to Fox News, emphasized, “The United States designated the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as ISIS-DRC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2021. We are concerned by reports of the recent attack on civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo and strongly condemn this cowardly act of violence against Christians in their place of worship.”

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) also expressed “deep outrage at these heinous acts of violence, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and infringements on human rights.” MONUSCO added that they are “fully committed to working alongside the Congolese authorities and local communities to help prevent future attacks, protect civilians, reduce tensions, and contribute to the stabilization of areas affected by armed violence.”

Illia Djadi, a senior sub-Saharan researcher for the Christian organization Open Doors, described the attacks as “strategic,” noting, “The ADF have a very clear aim: they want to turn a large part of DRC into an Islamic caliphate, like the horrific one instigated in Iraq and Syria in 2014 by Islamic State.” Speaking to Fox News, Djadi further warned, “The presence of Islamic State groups across the region means that sub-Saharan Africa has become the new epicenter of jihadism.” In a region where Christians make up 80-95% of the population, the minority Muslim extremists are waging a brutal campaign.

Djadi highlighted the devastating toll: “millions of people have been killed in eastern DRC and millions have been displaced.” He urged action, saying, “Something needs to be done from the DRC government, but also the international community to say this is not acceptable. People have been displaced ?" not once, not twice. They are in constant displacement. They have lost everything. The only thing they want is to live in peace.”

Concerning this most recent assault, Open Doors reported uncertainty about the exact death toll and the number of Christians among the victims. “There are conflicting reports over the number of people killed,” they wrote, “and it’s unclear exactly how many are Christians. The full picture will likely become clearer in the coming days, but the death toll is likely to rise.” Jo Newhouse, Open Doors’ spokesperson for sub-Saharan Africa, urged prayer. “Pray for an end to the Islamist radical violence as [the] government at all levels diligently, impartially and transparently address[es] the violence and its effects. Pray for provision for the church in eastern DRC as she seeks to bring physical and spiritual assistance to the affected.”

The 2025 Open Doors World Watch List paints a sobering picture: 4,476 Christians were killed last year, with 69% of these deaths occurring in Nigeria alone. Globally, one in seven Christians face persecution, with one in five in Africa and two in five in Asia bearing the brunt. The report also documented 7,679 attacks on churches or Christian properties and at least 4,744 Christians imprisoned. Over 380 million Christians endure high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

Arielle Del Turco, director of Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty, shared her grief with The Washington Stand. “My heart aches for the dozens of Christians in the DRC who were murdered en masse while gathered for a prayer vigil,” she said. “In situations like this, we turn to Christ as our hope. We can pray for safety and protection for the Christians in the DRC and across the region to be able to live out their faith in peace.”

As she went on to conclude, “This brutal, unthinkable attack exposes the urgent need for political leaders in the United States and across the world to condemn violence against Christians in Africa and call for the basic human right of religious freedom to be ensured and protected.”