Congo: Over 40 killed in militant attack on church – DW – 07/28/2025
At least 43 people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a Catholic church was attacked by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels on Sunday.
The ADF — an insurgent group with ties to the so-called "Islamic State" group — raided the church located in the northeastern town of Komanda as worshippers gathered for prayer.
Nine children were among those killed, according to MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
According to reports, houses and shops surrounding the church were also set ablaze by the rebels.
"These targeted attacks on defenseless civilians, especially in places of worship, are not only revolting but also contrary to all norms of human rights and international humanitarian law," the mission's deputy chief, Vivian van de Perre, said in a statement.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Sunday's attack marked the end of a months-long period of calm in the region of Ituri, bordering Uganda.
In February, 23 people had died in an attack by the ADF in the province's Mambasa territory.
The Congolese army condemned what it described as a "large-scale massacre" on Sunday.
It said the ADF had decided to take "revenge on defenseless peaceful populations to spread terror".
Eastern Congo is considered as one of the world's most dangerous regions.
Nearly 130 different armed groups are said to be active across the country, many of which are focused on controlling the region's vast and valuable reserves of natural resources like coltan, cobalt, gold and diamonds.
Hostilities earlier this year between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group ended in a truce on July 19.
The ADF is a long-standing insurgent group originating in Uganda and operating in eastern Congo. They have been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians.
The group often uses hatchets and machetes to carry out attacks. In 2019, the ADF pledged allegiance to the "Islamic State" group.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
4 hours ago
- DW
Pope's 'Jubilee of Youth' ends with mass for 1 million – DW – 08/03/2025
Faithful from across the world gathered in Rome for the week-long festival for young people. One of the highlights was a concert dubbed the Catholic "Woodstock." Young people from nearly 150 countries celebrated Mass on Sunday with Pope Leo XIV at the end of the Catholic Church's Jubilee of Youth in Italy. The Vatican said more than a million youth took part in the huge event in a vast open space at Rome's University of Tor Vergata. Leo, who arrived by helicopter and popemobile to cheers and applause, used his closing blessing to remember the young people of Gaza and Ukraine and other warring countries who could not join their celebration. "We are closer than ever to young people who suffer the most serious evils, which are caused by other human beings," Leo said. "We are with the young people of Gaza. We are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war." "My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible. A world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons, but with dialogue." Later, he told them to: "Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less." The week-long Jubilee of Youth is a highlight of the Catholic Church's Jubilee or Holy Year of forgiveness and pilgrimage, which runs until January. The event drew half a million young pilgrims over the past week, most of them camping out in tents, sleeping bags, or on mats in the sprawling fields southeast of Rome. Sunday's colourful mass was accompanied by music from a choir and about 450 bishops and 700 priests, all in green robes. A towering cross dominated the massive golden arch covering the stage where the pope led the proceedings. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people watched a concert by religious bands, dubbed the Catholic "Woodstock," attended by the pope. Another highlight was turning the Circus Maximus — where chariot races were held in ancient Rome — into an open-air confessional. The youth pilgrimage came about three months after the start of Leo's papacy and 25 years after John Paul II organised the last such youth gathering in Rome. Italian pilgrim Tommaso Benedetti said Leo had passed his "first test" in the eyes of young people during the jubilee. "We feel quite satisfied. There were many references to peace, a theme that is very close to our hearts as young people," Benedetti told AFP. The church's wider Jubilee or Holy Year is expected to bring 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Up To A Million Young Catholics Expected For Grand Pope Leo Vigil
Up to a million young Catholic believers are expected Saturday for a night-time vigil led by Pope Leo XIV, the culmination of a week-long pilgrimage, a key event in the Jubilee holy year. The "Jubilee of Youth" -- when the Vatican invites Catholics aged 18 to 35 to the seat of the global Church's power -- has seen thousands of young pilgrims from around the world flood Rome this week. It is taking place just under three months since 69-year-old Leo -- the first American pope -- took over the papacy. Large groups of pilgrims have packed the streets of Rome all week, waving the flags of their countries or cities and chanting religious songs. Excitement has mounted over the course of the week for the new pope's final appearance to the youths on Saturday. "I feel mainly curiosity, as we don't know him very well yet," Parisian student Alice Berry, 21, told AFP. "What does he have to say to us? What is his message for young people?" Various events have been planned for them by the Church throughout the city, including at Circus Maximus, where on Friday approximately 1,000 priests were on hand to take confession. Some 200 white gazebos lined the hippodrome where chariot races were once held in Ancient Rome, where youth lined up to speak to priests in 10 different languages. Spanish was one of the main languages heard on the streets of the Italian capital. The pilgrimage is taking place as economic uncertainty hits young people across the world and as climate change anxiety rises among the under-30s. Many young pilgrims said they wanted to hear the Vatican's position on climate change, wars and economic inequalities. Samarei Semos, 29, said she had travelled three days from her native Belize to get to Rome. "We are still trying to understand his leadership," she said of the new pope, adding she hoped he would have a strong say about "third world countries". The pilgrimage also comes amid global alarm over starvation in Israel-blockaded Gaza, and more than three years into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Vatican has praised Catholic youths who travelled to Rome from war-scarred countries like Ukraine or Syria, with Pope Leo repeatedly calling for the youths to "pray for peace". The voices of the amassed young people "will be heard to the end of the earth," Pope Leo told them earlier this week. The Vatican has said that more than 146 countries are represented. The mass that is the climax of the event will take place in Rome's Tor Vergata area in a vast open-air space with a newly built stage for the pope. It is the same area used 25 years ago for the last youth jubilee under Pope John Paul II. More than 4,300 volunteers will be working the event to welcome the young pilgrims, along with over 1,000 police, according to organisers. In an unprecedented move, Leo hosted a mass Tuesday for Catholic social media influencers, signalling the Vatican's openness to supporting the Internet-savvy youth. Rome authorities have tightened security in the city -- which has seen an unprecedented number of people, with both tourists and pilgrims inundated the city. Spanish was one of the main languages heard on the streets of the Italian capital AFP Pope Leo repeatedly calling for the youths to 'pray for peace' AFP
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Germany updates: Sabotage suspected in major rail disruption – DW – 07/31/2025
A fire on the main railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg has caused major disruptions to train services across western Germany. Police now suspect sabotage. A fire on a rail line between Duisburg and Düsseldorf has paralyzed Deutsche Bahn's main north-south corridor, causing widespread disruptions. A railway spokesperson said train traffic would face massive delays, with the disruption expected to last throughout the day. Long-distance services are also affected. It comes on the same day that Deutsche Bahn reported that 63.4% of its long-distance trains are now arriving within 15 minutes of schedule. In its first-half results, the company also reported a reduced loss of €760 million, nearly €1 billion less than in the same time last year. More than 30,000 people in Germany have signed a petition calling for the return of a Yazidi family deported to Iraq. The family was deported despite a court having lifted their obligation to leave the country on the same day. On Tuesday, last week, 43 people were deported to Iraq on a charter flight from Leipzig to Baghdad. The Yazidi family was among those on board. The Yazidis are a religious minority that suffered genocide at the hands of the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) militant group in Iraq in 2014, making such deportations particularly contentious. Classmates of the family's 6-year-old child appear to have created a petition on stating that the family was deported "for no apparent reason" and urging German authorities to work toward bringing them back. Last week, Brandenburg's Interior Minister Rene Wilke said he wanted to bring the family back quickly in coordination with the federal government. Police in Germany are investigating an alleged act of sabotage targeting a major railway line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg, which has disrupted both regional and long-distance services. The fire broke out in a cable duct near Düsseldorf and was discovered when a train driver noticed smoke and raised the alarm. Deutsche Bahn warned of significant delays, rerouted trains, and suspended stops at several stations in the region. High-speed rail lines to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, as well as connections to northern and southern Germany and the Netherlands, have also been impacted, the rail operator announced. The cables in the affected tunnel segment were destroyed and will need to be replaced. German lawmakers in the Bundestag's Budget Committee have unlocked €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) for urgent bridge repairs. It comes after Autobahn GmbH halted contract tenders for 2025 in mid-July due to a lack of funds. The state-owned company warned of major delays to bridge renovations as billions in infrastructure funding remained unavailable. The German government said Thursday's approval means Autobahn can fully spend the €2.5 billion earmarked in the special fund this year for bridge and tunnel rehabilitation, including on major traffic arteries such as the A7 and A3 motorways. As many as 5,000 of the 40,000 bridges along the country's autobahns are in such poor condition that they urgently need repair. More than half of the autobahn bridges were built before 1985, including most of the major valley bridges in former West Germany. Autobahn reported a "dramatic increase" in the maintenance backlog on highways, which could severely impact traffic safety. German inflation remained unchanged in July, preliminary data from the Federal Statistics Office Destatis showed. Annual inflation in Europe's top economy came in at 2.0%. Unemployment in Germany rose by 65,000 in from June to July, just shy of a total of 2.979 million, according to the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg. The unemployment rate now stands at 6.3%, with Bremen and Berlin the cities with the most unemployed people. That's 171,000 more than the same time last year. Experts expect the total number of unemployed to top 3 million in August. "Unemployment has risen due to the start of the summer break. Companies remain cautious about reporting new jobs, and employment subject to social insurance contributions is hardly increasing at all," Andrea Nahles, the head of the Federal Employment Agency said. More than 200 celebrities have signed an open letter to Friedrich Merz, stating that "words alone won't save lives" in Gaza. They are urging the German chancellor to halt arms deliveries to Israel over its military actions in Gaza. "We too condemn the horrific crimes committed by Hamas in the strongest possible terms. But no crime justifies collectively punishing millions of innocent people in the most brutal manner," the letter states. Actors Daniel Brühl and Heike Makatsch, along with musicians Shirin David and Zartmann, are among the artists and media personalities who co-signed the letter, which was organized by the campaign group Avaaz. Germany approved €326.5 million ($374 million) in arms exports to Israel in 2023, a sharp increase from previous years. In 2024, approvals fell by half amid mounting legal and political pressure. In addition to calling for a ban on weapons deliveries, the signatories want Merz to support suspending the European Union's Association Agreement with Israel. They also demand an immediate cease-fire and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. "These steps are deeply in line with European values and would make it unmistakably clear to the Israeli government that even its closest allies can no longer accept the suffering, and that words are not enough," the letter reads. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Once renowned for its punctuality, Germany's rail operator has struggled in recent years to maintain its reputation. However, Deutsche Bahn reported a slight improvement over the past six months, with 63.4% of long-distance trains arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, according to its first-half results. This marks a modest increase from 62.7% in the first half of 2024. The state-owned rail operator said it aims to raise punctuality to between 65% and 70% by the end of the year. Despite ongoing issues with delays, passenger numbers rose to 943 million in the first half of 2025, reflecting continued demand for rail travel. The company also reported a reduced loss of €760 million for the period, nearly €1 billion less than in the same time last year. Revenue increased by 3.4% to €13.3 billion, although it still fell short of internal targets. CEO Richard Lutz emphasized the urgent need to modernize the country's aging rail infrastructure. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Lufthansa, Germany's flagship carrier, reported a 27% increase in second-quarter operating profit year-on-year, reaching €871 million ($995 million). It beat analysts' average forecast of 805 million euros. "Although the second quarter was again marked by geopolitical crises and economic uncertainties, we are today confirming our positive outlook for the full year," Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in a statement. All airlines belonging to the Lufthansa group, including Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Ita Airways, reported profits in the period. A German delegation, led by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is headed to Israel and the occupied West Bank on Thursday for talks with representatives from the Israeli government and the UN. Wadephul said his "main goal is definitely a ceasefire," but also said something needs to be done "to ease the suffering of people" in Gaza. "The number of victims in the Gaza Strip is too high." Wadephul, from the center-right CDU, will be joined by a member of the Social Democrats (SPD) with whom they govern in a coalition. SPD deputy parliamentary group leader Siemtje Möller told public broadcaster ARD before the two-day trip that "real pressure" was needed to end the suffering in Gaza. Möller gave six aims that Germany has: large-scale humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament of Hamas, peace negotiations, and an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank that violate international law. Despite its commitment to a two-state solution, Germany has not joined the growing number of Western countries that have pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel in Gaza. However, Möller suggested that Germany could consider recognizing a Palestinian state sooner than expected. "The recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo and doesn't necessarily have to come at the end of a [two-state] process," she said before the flight. A helicopter used by the German military that crashed into the Mulde River the town of Grimma in the eastern German state of Saxony, has been removed, the Air Force said. Two people were killed in the crash Tuesday, and one person remains missing. Divers have been scouring the river, while soldiers have combed the riverbanks in search of the missing crew member. The helicopter was flying at a low altitude when it went down near a bridge over the A14 motorway. The cause of the crash is under and the international sports community have reacted with shock to the news that Laura Dahlmeier has died in a mountaineering accidentin Pakistan. The two-time Olympic gold medal-winning German biathlete was confirmed dead on Wednesday, two days after being caught in a rockslide high in the mountains of northern Pakistan. The 31-year-old was swept away by falling rocks on Monday at an altitude of around 5,700 meters (18,700 feet) while ascending the 6,069-meter-high Laila Peak. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered his condolences to Dahlmeier's parents, writing that she "was an exceptional sportswoman." "Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders," he said. International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry described the news as "deeply shocking for all of us in the Olympic Movement." "Laura made history at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics as the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit gold at the same Games edition. She will be remembered forever. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time," Coventry said. The International Biathlon Union (IBU) said, "throughout her career and following her retirement, Laura's drive to push beyond limits and embrace challenges touched and inspired countless lives around the world." The German Ski Federation DSV said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" to learn about Dahlmeier's death. "In Laura, the German Ski Federation has not only lost an outstanding athlete, but also a very special person. Her legacy will reach far beyond sport. We will honour her memory," the DSV said. Magdalena Neuer, who also won two Olympic golds and 12 world titles in biathlon, posted a photo of herself and Dahlmeier along with a heart emoji on Instagram. Gray skies and steady rain over Bonn this morning, . Germany is mourning the loss of Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier, who died in a climbing accident while ascending Laila Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier led tributes, calling her a role model and a national treasure. Rescue teams confirmed her death on Wednesday, but due to harsh weather conditions, they were unable to recover her body. In today's blog, we'll reflect on Dahlmeier's legacy and how she'll be remembered by fans, fellow athletes, and the wider public. Later this morning, we're expecting fresh data from Germany's statistics office: an early estimate of July's inflation. Analysts are predicting a slight slowdown in price growth, though not enough to bring real relief to consumers still grappling with high costs for food and services.
