Mudavadi condemns DRC church attack that left over 40 dead

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi. /OPCS

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has condemned the brutal attack that claimed the lives of more than 40 people in north-eastern DRC, terming it “tragic and deeply unsettling.”

The assault, which occurred on Sunday, July 27, targeted worshippers gathered for a night vigil at a Catholic church in the town of Komanda.

Most of the victims were civilians, with nine children among the dead, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC.

The attackers also looted and torched local businesses during the raid.

In a statement issued on Tuesday via X, Mudavadi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his condolences to the affected families and the Congolese people.

“The horrific attack on worshippers gathered for a night vigil in Komanda, which claimed the lives of more than 40 innocent people, including children, is both tragic and deeply unsettling,” he said.

Mudavadi decried the reported involvement of ADF militants, calling their actions not only inhumane but also a threat to peace and stability in the region.

“The reported involvement of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants, who not only killed and injured congregants but also looted and burned down local businesses, adds to the pain and anguish. Such cruel acts targeting peaceful civilians in a sacred place of worship are not only inhumane but should spark collective outrage across our region and the entire continent,” the statement read in part.

The Prime CS urged calm in Komanda and expressed hope that peace would prevail over violence.

“My thoughts and sympathies go out to the grieving families and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time. May calm return to Komanda and may peace triumph over violence,” he added.

The ADF, originally a Ugandan rebel group, has been operating in eastern DRC for decades and is now affiliated with the Islamic State group.

The militia has been blamed for a spate of violent attacks targeting civilians, often in remote villages and towns across the Ituri and North Kivu provinces.

The attack on the Komanda church adds to the growing concerns over insecurity in eastern DRC, despite the presence of UN peacekeepers and regional forces.