About 70 Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reportedly been brutally executed with machetes or large knives by Islamist militants. According to multiple organizations monitoring terrorism and persecution, the atrocity was committed by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS).
Despite the shocking nature of the massacre, global silence on the incident has deeply troubled advocacy groups.
Reports indicate that the 70 Christians, all from the Lubero district, were forcibly removed from their homes early on February 13 by ADF rebels. Witnesses say the militants shouted, “Get out, get out!” as they rounded up the victims. The hostages were then taken to a small Christian church in the village of Kasanga, where they were tied up and subsequently beheaded—inside what had once been a place of sanctuary.
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Vianney Vitswamba, coordinator of a local community protection committee, told the Global Fight Against Terrorism Funding organization (GFATF), “Seventy bodies were discovered in the church. They were tied up.”
Adding to the brutality, reports suggest that Islamist militants prevented Christian leaders from burying the victims for five days.
Despite the DRC being home to a Christian majority—95% of the population—Islamist groups like the ADF continue to wage violent campaigns in an effort to establish an Islamic caliphate. According to analysts, these militants enforce extreme interpretations of Islam, targeting Christians and spreading terror across the country’s northeast.
“The violence takes place in a context of impunity, where almost no one is held accountable,” said John Samuel, Open Doors’ legal expert for sub-Saharan Africa. “This massacre is a clear indicator of widespread human rights violations against civilians and vulnerable communities, often targeting Christians.”
Tristan Azbej, Hungary’s State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter).
“Horrified to learn about the 70 Christian martyrs beheaded by terrorists in a church… Hungary stands in solidarity with persecuted Christians… the world needs to recognize and act against Christian persecution,” he wrote.
????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
— Tristan Azbej ن (@tristan_azbej) February 19, 2025️
Open Doors UK also released a statement highlighting the ongoing persecution in the DRC: “Christians in the DRC face severe persecution and violence frequently from Islamist militants, particularly the ADF. Allied with the Islamic State, the ADF abduct and kill Christians and attack churches, causing widespread terror, insecurity, and displacement.”
Despite the scale and severity of the killings, the incident has received little international media coverage. American political commentator Liz Wheeler condemned this silence, writing on X: “Seventy Christian men, women & children were beheaded… because they’re Christian. Their decapitated bodies were left in a church… because they’re Christian. The terrorists who murdered them have ties to ISIS. MSM, where’s your outrage? Are you silent… because they’re Christian?”
Meanwhile, instability continues to grip the northeastern DRC. On Friday, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels reportedly entered the region’s second-largest city, Bukavu, after seizing control of Goma, a major city near the Rwandan border.
Amid the ongoing bloodshed, local Christian communities are in mourning and fear. A church elder from CECA20 shared his grief with reporters, “We don’t know what to do or how to pray; we’ve had enough of massacres. May God’s will alone be done.”
Persecution of Christians is rising globally, particularly in Africa. A January 2025 report from Open Doors U.S. revealed that over 380 million Christians worldwide faced at least a “high level” of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.
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