Islamic State’s fighters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have claimed the killing of a further 36 Christians in the country’s north-east.
The claims were made through the social media channels of Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP, formerly known as the Allied Democratic Forces).
The killings follow the massacre of at least 34 worshippers at a church service Komanda, Ituri Province, in the early hours of Sunday 27 July.
The destruction in Oicha, North Kivu, where nine people were killed in an Islamic State attack on a Christian community [Image credit: Lusenge Julienne/X]
The deadliest single attack took place in Chape, also in Ituri, on 16 August when ISCAP fighters killed 10 “infidel Christians” with machine guns.
The other killings took place in various attacks across the neighbouring province of North Kivu.
ISCAP has killed at least 425 Christians in north-eastern DRC since Christmas 2024.
This jihad against Christians is taking place against the background of widespread violence in the region. Analysts believe that the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group killed more than 140 Hutu civilians in North Kivu farming communities in July.
ISCAP first pledged bay’a (allegiance) to the central Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) in 2017. Since then the terrorist group has killed around 6,000 Christians.
Earlier this month IS published a demand for African Christians to accept subjugation to Islamic rule.
How you can pray
Pray that the Lord will bring peace to north-eastern D. R. Congo, and especially that the Islamic State jihad against Christians will be ended. Ask that the bereaved in Ituri and North Kivu will be comforted by their knowledge of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
