Three killed, three kidnapped as ADF Islamists strike again in eastern DRC

Three killed, three kidnapped as ADF Islamists strike again in eastern DRC
Three people were hacked to death with machetes while three others were kidnapped in a raid carried out by armed men on Saturday, 2 September, in Lahe-Malolu/Vemba village, situated 12km from Beni, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s volatile eastern region of North Kivu. Speaking to the UN-based Radio . . . Read More

DRC clergy call for ‘unconditional’ release of kidnapped priests

Catholic church leaders from the diocese of Butembo-Béni, in the volatile province of North-Kivu, in north-eastern DRC, have called for the release of their fellow priests, kidnapped by unknown armed men ten days ago. Fr Pierre Akilimali and Fr Charles Kipasa were kidnapped by about ten armed men in camouflage, . . . Read More

Are attacks on DRC churches religiously motivated?

Are attacks on DRC churches religiously motivated?
Amid the increasing political unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, senior Catholic leaders have reported increasing attacks on church properties, and the intimidation and even torture of clergy. Below, World Watch Monitor’s Africa Bureau Chief, Illia Djadi, gives his perspective on what’s driving the new wave of violence. What . . . Read More

‘If Bin Laden’s disciples are seen as terrorists, why should we wonder about the ADF in DRC?’

‘If Bin Laden’s disciples are seen as terrorists, why should we wonder about the ADF in DRC?’
World Watch Monitor speaks to Nicaise Kibel’Bel Oka, editor of “Les Coulisses” (Behind the Scenes) magazine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr. Oka recently published a book (in French): “The advent of jihad in DR Congo – the unknown Islamist terrorism of the ADF” (Allied Democratic Forces). WWM: Is . . . Read More

DRC – more reports allege ‘caliphate’ in N. Kivu

The International Business Times UK writes about the apparent Islamic agenda of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. World Watch Monitor recently highlighted a UN report stating the same concern. Three decades since its start in Uganda in the 1990s, “the mysterious rebel . . . Read More

UN report highlights Islamists’ role in DRC violence

UN report highlights Islamists’ role in DRC violence
Over the Christmas weekend, more than 40 people were killed in the city of Beni and neighbouring communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now a new report by the UN Panel of Experts on the DRC sheds new light on the presence of Islamist militants, which has caused . . . Read More

DRC: church deacon released after demonstration

A kidnapped church deacon has been released in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following demonstrations in the village where he works as a hospital apprentice. Godefroid Paluku was kidnapped on 18 November on the Kiwanja-Ishasha road in the Rutshuru territory of the eastern North Kivu province. He was on . . . Read More

Slashed by machetes and left for dead in the DRC

Slashed by machetes and left for dead in the DRC
In the volatile province of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a father of three has described how Islamist militants carrying guns and machetes almost killed him. Jean*, who’s recovering in hospital from his injuries, was attacked while walking home from work, when he ran into rebels. . . . Read More