In a tragic and horrifying event, seventy Christians were brutally murdered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on February 13, 2025. The attack, carried out by militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group with known ties to the Islamic State, has left the local and global Christian communities in deep mourning.
The Attack
According to reports, the violence began around 4 a.m. in the village of Mayba, located in the Lubero Territory of North Kivu province. Militants approached homes, ordering residents to come out quietly. Initially, twenty Christian men and women were captured. Later, as the community gathered to devise a plan for their release, the militants returned, capturing an additional fifty believers. All seventy captives were taken to a Protestant church in the nearby village of Kasanga, where they were brutally executed.
The aftermath of the massacre has been devastating. Many families were unable to bury their loved ones immediately due to ongoing insecurity in the area. The violence has also forced numerous Christians to flee their homes in search of safety. An elder from the CECA20 church expressed the community’s anguish: “We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres. May God’s will alone be done.”
Escalating Violence in the Region
This heinous act is part of a disturbing pattern of escalating violence against Christians in the northeastern regions of the DRC. The ADF has intensified its attacks in recent years, leading to a significant rise in persecution. In 2024 alone, 355 Christians were killed for their faith in the DRC, up from 261 the previous year. The violence has also resulted in the displacement of approximately 10,000 people, with homes looted and burned, and several Christian villages abandoned.
Calls for International Intervention
The international community has been urged to take action in response to these atrocities. John Samuel, a legal expert for Open Doors in sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the need for global attention: “Open Doors strongly condemns this heinous act of violence against civilians and calls upon civil societies, governments, and international organizations to prioritize civilian protection in eastern DRC.” He further highlighted the impunity with which these acts are carried out, noting that such massacres are clear indicators of widespread human rights violations against civilians, often targeting Christians.
Tristan Azbej, Hungary’s State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, also expressed his horror, stating, “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… the world needs to recognize and act against Christian persecution.”
A Call to Prayer
In these dark times, the global Christian community is called to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the DRC. Prayers are needed for the grieving families, for the safety of those who have been displaced, and for an end to the violence that has plagued the region. As one local church leader poignantly stated, “We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres.” Let us join together in prayer, asking for God’s comfort, protection, and peace to envelop the affected communities.
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