DR Congo: Bishop slams police response after 37 children murdered by Islamist militants

IDPs in Kanyaruchinya camp, who fled fighting between Congolese armed forces and rebels Image: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti. CC License 2.0

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

Following an attack by jihadists who shot and stabbed to death 37 children a bishop has slammed the "slow response" of security forces.

Militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) attacked Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta Catholic Church in Komanda, Ituri on 27th July.

The extremists attacked a vigil in the parish hall at around two o'clock in the morning, where children were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Eucharistic Crusades movement.

A total of 37 Christian youths died after being shot or hacked to death with machetes, six were wounded and four managed to flee.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop Dieudonné Uringi of Bunia slammed the slow response of security forces. He said: "The police and the military were not far away, but they did not act in time. They should have intervened more quickly to protect the population."

According to the bishop the entire community remain shocked by the brutality of the event.

He added: "Many people have been traumatised. When the adults found out, they came immediately to see what had happened."

The bishop said there were no "confessional tensions" between Christians and Muslims in the region but denounced the continued presence of armed groups. There is no conflict between communities. The problem is the rebels from Uganda who have been operating in this area for years."

ADF is a terrorist group that has pledged loyalty to Daesh (ISIS).

Despite the insecurity, the bishop has continued to visit remote communities. He told ACN: "This very afternoon, I must travel more than 60 kilometres [37 miles] to a mining area in the middle of the jungle, as I did in June and July. I do travel every month to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation."

Bishop Uringi said many young priests have been displaced by the violence. He added: "Many had to leave their parishes and seek refuge in Bunia. We welcome them, but we have no means to sustain them. It would be a great relief to receive help as we have before from your foundation to accompany us at this time."

On 28th July the National Episcopal Conference of Congo issued a statement condemning the "hateful massacre".

They said: "This umpteenth massacre has occurred in one of the provinces that has been under a state of siege for several years, with the presence of the joint operation of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and Ugandan (UPDF), in addition to MONUSCO [United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]. In these provinces we are witnessing murders and kidnappings."

ACN has helped the Church in DRC with pastoral support and other assistance for IDPs.

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Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org