Komanda massacre

Komanda massacre
Part of the Kivu conflict and the ADF insurgency
Komanda
Komanda (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Location of Komanda within the Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Native nameMassacre de Komanda, Mauaji ya Komanda
Location1°21′44.31″N 29°46′38.58″E / 1.3623083°N 29.7773833°E / 1.3623083; 29.7773833
Komanda, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date27 July 2025
~01:00 a.m. CAT (UTC+02:00)
TargetSaint Anuarite Catholic church and the town of Komanda
Attack type
Mass murder, mass shooting, massacre
WeaponsLight arms, machetes
Deaths43-50 civilians (including 19 women, 15 men, and 9 children)
Injured13 civilians
Victims12-14 missing
Thousands displaced
Perpetrator

The Komanda massacre (French: Massacre de Komanda, Swahili: Mauaji ya Komanda) occurred on 27 July 2025, when Islamic State-affiliated (IS) Allied Democratic Forces (ADF-Baluku) rebels attacked the Saint Anuarite Catholic church in Komanda, Zunguluka district, Irumu territory in central Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The attack occurred in the middle of the night, during which ADF rebels targeted a night vigil. Between 43-50 Congolese civilians were killed, with credible estimates listing 43 deaths, including 19 women, 15 men, and nine children.

The attack drew significant domestic and international attention, including statements coming from Pope Leo XIV, the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CENCO), the United Nation's (UN) peacekeeping force in the DRC (MONUSCO), the UN Security Council (UNSC), and others. The DRC's armed forces (FARDC) and MONUSCO were rapidly deployed to the town to maintain security, aid in burying deceased victims of the attacks, and provide medical support.