Terrorist Attack Sparks Urgent Push for Accountability and Protection
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is reeling from yet another brutal attack on its Christian population. On February 15, terrorists abducted over 70 Christians—mostly women, children, and elderly—from their homes in eastern DRC, herded them into a church, and killed them using hammers and machetes. The massacre, attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a recognized terrorist group, has sparked outrage and renewed demands for accountability.
Eastern DRC remains a hotspot of violence, worsened by the M23 rebel group’s offensive, supported by Rwanda, which began in January 2025. The conflict has claimed 7,000 lives and displaced over 500,000 people, creating a vacuum exploited by groups like the ADF. Known for targeting Christians, the ADF has a history of atrocities, including a June 2024 attack that killed 150 civilians.
Global Response and a Cry for Action
The massacre has drawn international condemnation, with leaders like Pope Francis decrying the rising persecution of Christians in Africa. A $2.54 billion humanitarian appeal aims to support 11 million affected Congolese, but advocates say aid isn’t enough—justice is essential.
The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), has stepped up, pressing the U.N. Human Rights Office to act. In a formal letter, the ECLJ urged the DRC government to prosecute the perpetrators, called on Rwanda to stop backing M23, and proposed a U.N. body to address religious persecution in Africa.
A Plea for the World to Listen
“This is a grim wake-up call,” said Olivia Summers, Senior Litigation Counsel at ACLJ, who originally highlighted the crisis. “Without decisive action, the slaughter of Christians will persist.” The ECLJ’s advocacy aims to hold both the DRC and international actors accountable, ensuring the violence doesn’t fade into silence.
As the death toll rises, the global community faces a critical test: Will it demand justice for the DRC’s persecuted Christians, or allow the cycle of violence to continue unchecked?
