Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on east Congo church
At dawn on Sunday, Islamic State-allied rebels stormed the church in Komanda, a village located around 75 kilometers from Ituri's provincial capital Bunia, killing people with guns and machetes and taking captives.
Islamic State said on its Telegram channel that rebels had killed some 45 churchgoers and burned dozens of homes and shops.
The U.N. mission known as MONUSCO said at least 43 people had been killed, including 19 women and nine children, while condemning the attack carried out by the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ADF originates in neighbouring Uganda, but is now based in mineral-rich eastern Congo. It mounts frequent attacks, further destabilising a region where many militant groups compete for influence and resources.
Pope Leo on Monday sent a message of condolences to the bereaved families and the Christian community who lost their relatives and friends in the assault, saying he would pray for them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Kate Forbes's resignation may be welcome for left of SNP
IN a surprising announcement, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced that she will not be standing for re-election as an MSP at the next Scottish parliament elections due in May next year. First elected as an MSP in 2016 and a fluent Gaelic speaker, she has served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and [[Gaelic]] since May 2024. In her letter announcing that she would not be seeking re-election, she cited her wish to spend more time with her young family. Her daughter Naomi was born in summer 2022. She also has step-children from her husband's first marriage. Her husband Ali's first wife died suddenly in 2014. READ MORE: Highland Council set for by-election after Green resigns seat In her announcement she wrote: "It has been a great honour to serve Highland communities for almost a decade. I am grateful to every voter who re-elected me at the last election with the biggest majority in Scotland. 'I have also been privileged to serve in Government, first as Minister for Public Finance, then as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and most recently as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic. 'As I reflected over recess, I have concluded that I do not wish to seek re-election for another five-year term in the Scottish Parliament. 'All politicians face a choice at every election to stay on the same path or not. Quite simply, I've decided on the latter. I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election – to lead Scotland to independence.' Forbes stood for election as party leader following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, coming second behind Humza Yousaf. She scuppered her campaign early on by saying in an interview that she would not have supported equal marriage as recognising same sex marriages runs counter to her religious beliefs. Forbes is a member of the Christian fundamentalist Free Church of Scotland, for which her father was a missionary in India. Her socially conservative beliefs and conservative economic policies put her firmly on the right of the SNP. Her support for freeports left many SNP members feeling uncomfortable. Although she never mentioned her explicitly, Forbes's elevation to the post of Deputy First Minister seems to have been one of the reasons former MP Mhairi Black recently resigned from the SNP, citing her unhappiness with the direction that the party had been taking. Black was not alone. Forbes' resignation has been welcomed on social media by those who believe that in order to win back the trust of younger voters and working-class communities, the SNP needs to promote more assertively left wing, climate-friendly economic policies. They hope that this development will signal a leftward pivot from the SNP, marking a clear political and economic distinction between the SNP and the increasingly right-wing Labour party. READ MORE: From rising star to Deputy First Minister – Kate Forbes' career as she stands down However, whatever your views on Kate Forbes, her standing down will be a big loss to Holyrood and Government, and yet another indication the price on their family lives MSPs representing Highlands and Islands constituencies are expected to pay. First Minister John Swinney paid tribute to his deputy, writing on Twitter/X: "I pay tribute to Kate for her invaluable contribution to public life over the last ten years. The challenges of frontline politics are considerable, and I understand the decision she has made.' He then added: 'Although I wish it was not the case.' Health Secretary Neil Gray also said he was "very sorry" to hear the news but does "understand why". Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The pressures on any working mum is considerable but to combine that with senior ministerial responsibilities alongside a young family while serving your constituency is colossal. I wish Kate and her family all the best for whatever comes next." Today's announcement means that the [[SNP]] must run a fresh selection contest to find a new candidate for Forbes's Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency. Forbes's position had been confirmed in April when the SNP revealed that she had been the only nominee to stand in the area, meaning there is no second-place challenger to step in and take her place. READ MORE: What Kate Forbes's exit means for future SNP leadership hopefuls The SNP announced their full slate of nominees for the 2026 Holyrood elections in May, meaning that Forbes's constituency is currently the only area without a confirmed party candidate. In the 2021 elections, Forbes won 56.1% of the vote, while the Tories came second on 19.3%. The LibDems were in third with 15.7%. However, at last year's Westminster election, the Lib Dems took the overlapping [[Westminster]] constituency of Inverness, [[Skye]], and West Ross-shire with 37.8% of the vote against 33.3% for the [[SNP]]'s Drew Hendry.
Wales Online
10 hours ago
- Wales Online
Man 'known to walk long distances' missing for days
Man 'known to walk long distances' missing for days Police have released CCTV showing 26-year-old Christian when he was last seen on Friday Christian was last seen in the Wrexham area on Friday (Image: North Wales Police) Police are appealing to help them find a missing 26-year-old man who is "known to walk long distances". Christian, who is originally from Yorkshire, was last seen in the Wrexham area shortly before 5pm on Friday, August 1. North Wales Police have released CCTV showing Christian walking in dark clothing around an hour before he was last seen. He is thought to be on foot. North Wales has been hit by Storm Floris with the region experiencing gusts of over 60mph on Monday morning along with heavy rain. Christian is described as around 5ft 8in tall and has short straight blond hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket with black trousers and light blue trainers. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here . Article continues below Christian, 26, is missing (Image: North Wales Police) North Wales Police asked for anyone with information about Christian's whereabouts to get in touch with officers on 101, or via their website, quoting reference number: 52523.
Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Trial begins for suspects in Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149 people
A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22 incident at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in which four gunmen shot people who were waiting for a show by a popular rock band and then set the building on fire. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have claimed, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine had a role in the attack. Kyiv has strongly denied any involvement. Suspects accused of involvement in a terror attack in the Crocus City Hall (Pavel Bednyakov/AP) The Investigative Committee, Russia's top criminal investigation agency, said in June that it concluded that the attack had been 'planned and carried out in the interests of the current leadership of Ukraine in order to destabilise political situation in our country'. It also noted the four suspected gunmen tried to flee to Ukraine afterwards. The four, all identified as citizens of Tajikistan, were arrested hours after the attack and later appeared in a Moscow court with signs of being severely beaten. The committee said earlier this year that six other suspects were charged in absentia and placed on Russia's wanted list for allegedly recruiting and organising the training of the four. Other defendants in the trial were accused of helping them.
