In February 2025, a horrific massacre unfolded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where more than 70 Christian civilians were beheaded inside a church in North Kivu. This brutal attack, carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist terrorist group affiliated with ISIS, has shocked the world. The victims, mostly women, children, and the elderly, had been abducted from the nearby village of Mayba before being slaughtered in the church on February 15. This tragedy is part of a broader pattern of escalating religious persecution in the region, where Islamist militias like the ADF target Christian communities amidst ongoing conflict.
The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group with deep ties to ISIS, has terrorized eastern DRC for years. Their attacks, which include massacres and abductions, have intensified amid the ongoing violence between the M23 rebel group—backed by Rwanda—and Congolese government forces. Since January 2025, the M23 conflict has displaced over half a million people and claimed 7,000 lives. Civilians, particularly Christians, find themselves caught between these two brutal forces, facing both religious persecution and indiscriminate violence.
This massacre, in which over 70 Christians were killed, is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of religious minorities in the DRC. Earlier in 2024, the ADF carried out a similar massacre, killing 150 people, many of them Christians. Pope Francis condemned these attacks, calling the victims “martyrs of the faith.”
In response to these atrocities, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) has launched a campaign demanding urgent international action to protect religious minorities in the DRC. The ECLJ has reached out to key international bodies, including the United Nations, the European Union, and African organizations, calling for investigations, justice, and stronger protections for vulnerable communities. Among the measures requested, the ECLJ has urged the creation of a UN special procedure to monitor religious persecution in Africa, specifically targeting regions like the DRC and Nigeria, where such violence is rampant.
The United Nations recently launched a $2.54 billion humanitarian appeal to assist 11 million people affected by the violence in the DRC. As the situation worsens, it is clear that the international community must act decisively to prevent further bloodshed and hold perpetrators accountable.
The massacre in North Kivu is just one example of the growing religious persecution across Africa, and the international community cannot remain silent. The ECLJ’s call for justice and action highlights the urgent need for global intervention to stop these atrocities and protect innocent lives.
The DRC’s crisis is far from over, and it is time for the world to stand with the victims and demand accountability.
