Islamic Terrorists Behead 70 Christians in Congo Church Attack

In a horrific attack last week, seventy Christians were brutally beheaded by radical Islamic terrorists in a Protestant church in Kasanga, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The massacre, reportedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with ties to the Islamic State, is yet another atrocity in the ongoing persecution of Christians in the region.

The Christian advocacy group Open Doors, which supports persecuted believers worldwide, revealed that the ADF terrorists initially surrounded the village of Mayba in the Lubero territory last Thursday. They kidnapped 20 men and women, later returning to take 50 more Christians captive. The captives were transported to the church, where they were mercilessly killed.

As of Tuesday, grieving families were still waiting to bury their loved ones while many Christians fled the area, fearing for their lives.

“We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres,” said an elder from the CECA20 church in the DRC. “May God’s will alone be done.”

Despite the scale of the atrocity, the massacre has received no coverage from mainstream legacy media outlets. However, it has drawn international condemnation from leaders and advocacy groups.

Hungarian State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter):
“Horrified to learn about the 70 Christian martyrs beheaded by terrorists in a church in Kasanga, DRC. Hungary stands in solidarity with the persecuted Christians BUT we need more … the world needs to recognize and act against Christian persecution.”

The DRC has suffered decades of instability and bloodshed, with over 6 million lives lost over two decades of intermittent war. The ADF, along with other militant factions like M23, have contributed to the chaos, displacing over 100,000 people in recent fighting, according to the United Nations.

The president of persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, Jeff King, noted that this massacre is not an isolated event but part of a broader “religious genocide” targeting the predominantly Christian population of the DRC.

“This recent massacre, where 70 Christians lost their lives, is not an isolated incident but part of a grim tapestry of violence that has claimed over 6 million lives in the DRC over two decades of on-and-off war,” King said.

The violence against Christians in the DRC has been intensifying. According to Open Doors, 355 Christians were killed in the country in 2024 for their faith, a sharp increase from 261 deaths in 2023.

The ADF, originally founded in Uganda, has a long track record of terrorizing Christians in Central Africa. They have carried out numerous attacks against civilians, often targeting churches and Christian villages to spread fear and destabilize communities.

The lack of media attention on this massacre highlights a broader issue: the widespread neglect of Christian persecution worldwide. While the global community often rallies against human rights abuses, atrocities committed against Christians, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, frequently go unreported and unaddressed.

For the families of the victims in Kasanga, the tragedy is not only a devastating personal loss but also a stark reminder of their vulnerability as Christians in a volatile region. As they mourn and struggle to rebuild their lives, the need for international action and support has never been more urgent.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for continued coverage of global Christian persecution and efforts to bring justice to affected communities.