Pray for Democratic Republic of the Congo
By Open Doors 9 April 2024
Attacks from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have multiplied on Christians living on the outskirts of the city of Beni, North Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the month of March 2024 alone, the group killed at least 50 Christians and kidnapped several others.
“We need the prayers from Christians all over the world because nothing is working,” said field partner, Pastor Kambale, after the Christians were killed in March.
The attacks began on the night of 29 February at around 9 p.m., when the ADF killed two Christians and wounded others in Ngite-Mavivi. Following this attack, the population barricaded the Beni-Oicha stretch of road on Friday morning, 1 March. According to the local civil society organisation, Convention for the Respect of Human Rights (CRDH), police dispersed the population.
On 5 March 2024, the inhabitants of Vemba-Kinyamusehe village woke up to the news that Christians were killed in the middle of the night by the ADF. Nine believers were reportedly killed. CRDH highlighted that since the attacks in January and February, schools and health centres in the area have been closed.
Ongoing, brutal attacks occurred from 17 to 23 March, where Christians were kidnapped, killed, and their houses were burned and looted.
Palm Sunday Attack
On Palm Sunday, 24 March, alarming cries of distress were heard in the Mulekera community following the killings of at least 13 Christians. The attackers also burnt a dozen homes, while several Christians were reported missing, a local pastor told Open Doors’ field partners.
The CRDH reports discovering an additional 22 bodies in the bush, bringing the death toll of the 23-24 March attacks to 36 Christians.
An undisclosed number of Christians were kidnapped by the ADF in another location on 26 March 2024. According to Pastor Kambale of the CECA20 church in Mangina, these Christians have been taken to unknown locations, and the incident has caused immense distress in the community.