06/13/2021 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is said to be behind the murder of 9 farmers and 13 civilians in eastern DRC last week on the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Civil society activist Lewis Saliboko reported that the victims were knifed to death, some were beheaded, and several victim’s bodies could not be found.
It was additionally reported by Nurse Mathe Mupanda Salomon that, “young people recovered 13 bodies from the bush.”
Though these numbers are not confirmed by official statements, it would put the death toll at 22 people.
The the U.S. Department of State recently designated ADF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and categorized them as ISIS-DRC. The group has the primary aim of creating an Islamic Caliphate in Central Africa. While a large majority (85-90%) of DRC’s population is Christian, violence rooted in Islamic extremism continues to worsen, putting the country at number 40 on the 2021 Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution. “These predominantly Christian communities are attacked by an Islamic extremist group with a clear Islamic expansionist agenda,” Open Doors spokesperson Illia Djadi stated in reference to the rebel group.
Please continue to pray for the healing of those traumatized by violence in the DRC, and for the Lord to comfort those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Please also pray for the Lord to strengthen government protection over it’s people and bring peace to the nation, and for the love of Jesus to redeem the souls of those who persecute the church.
For interviews please contact Alison Garcia at press@persecution.org
