More than 40 people have been killed in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a brutal Islamist attack.
The latest incident represents the chaos which engulfs the nation, with as many as 100 militant groups warring with the government.
Those at the church in Komanda were attending a late-night prayer vigil before they were savagely attacked by jihadists believed to belong to the ADF. The attackers stormed the building with machetes and victims were burned in a mass grave following the incident.
This incident only adds to similar reports in recent months, with 70 Christians beheaded in a church in February by the same group which is systemically targeting believers and uses beheading as its principal method of attack.
The Lindisfarne Centre believes the ADF - or Islamic State Central African Province (ISCAP) as they now call themselves - should be a source of greater concern worldwide as they seek to overthrow the DRC’s authorities and enforce Sharia law, despite Islam only accounting for a small percentage of the nation’s population, compared to its overwhelming Christian majority.
Martin Parsons, Lindisfarne’s CEO, told en: “As far as freedom of religion is concerned, the DRC is two contrasting countries.
"In much of the country the church has significant freedom.
"But in the East a total breakdown in law and order and government control has allowed various armed groups to seize control of the area. These include the ADF, who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and use it as a base from which to launch attacks on Christians, such as the horrific one we have just seen.
“One of the lessons Christians should take from this is that government and the rule of law are an essential pre-condition for freedom of religion.
"As Christians we know the Bible says God has ordained government to punish evildoers (Romans 12v1-4). But it is good to remember that this Biblical foundation is often precisely what is needed when we ask governments to help Christians facing persecution in situations such as the DRC.”
