A new massive assault on Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has drawn condemnation from the Pope, the State Department, the United Nations, and a prominent Christian organization. The United Nations reports that the attack resulted in at least 49 fatalities.

This incident adds to a distressing and prolonged series of attacks by Islamist militants in both Nigeria and the DRC. According to the U.N., militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel faction linked to the Islamic State and originating in Uganda, stormed a church in the eastern town of Komanda. During their intrusion, they used machetes and knives to assault Christians who were gathered for worship. The assault occurred at 1 a.m. last Sunday while the congregation was holding a night vigil, reportedly praying for peace.

The rebels also burnt nearby homes. Nine children are said to be among the dead. Several villagers have been abducted.

A spokesperson from the State Department stated to Fox News Digital, “In 2021, the United States designated the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as ISIS-DRC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. We are troubled by reports of this recent attack on civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo and emphatically denounce this despicable act of violence against Christians in their place of worship.”

Villagers walk towards the burial site of 49 Christians killed by jihadists in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 28th. (Open Doors)

Back in February, 70 Christians were reported to have been executed in another church in the DRC. The situation is even graver in Nigeria, where Pope Leo XIV mentioned that “around 200 individuals were brutally murdered” on June 13 in Yelewata, situated in Nigeria’s Benue State.

According to the 2025 World Watch List from Open Doors International, out of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide during the latest reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria.

Djadi communicated to Fox News Digital that, despite the peace agreement in the DRC facilitated by President Trump, Christians continue to face risks in the eastern region. “The Democratic Republic of Congo has received significant focus lately, particularly with Donald Trump leading a peace effort involving the DRC and Rwanda, whose rebel faction, the M23, has occupied a considerable portion of eastern DRC territories.”

Christian faithfuls hold signs as they march on the streets of Abuja during a prayer and penance for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja on March 1, 2020. (KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

“However,” Djadi added, “while government forces are trying to contain the M23 in the urban regions, the rural areas are left undefended. It has left a security vacuum, meaning that the ADF are free to slaughter hundreds of innocent civilians with impunity, with Christians especially at risk.

“It is the primary responsibility of (the) Congolese government to protect the whole nation, regardless of their religious faith or ethnic background. What would happen if the ADF continues its killing unopposed is too awful to contemplate.”