Local officials report that dozens have been killed in an attack in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, allegedly perpetrated by an affiliate of the Islamic State group.
Sources indicate that approximately 20 fatalities occurred when Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters attacked worshippers attending a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda.
Reports also detail the looting and arson of nearby shops and businesses.
The ADF, initially emerging in Uganda during the 1990s with grievances against the government’s treatment of Muslims, has since established a base in DR Congo. From there, they are known to launch regular attacks against civilians of all religious backgrounds, as well as targets in Uganda.
The group has integrated into the Islamic State’s Central African Province, encompassing a related faction in Mozambique.
Research from BBC Monitoring suggests that a significant majority, nearly 90%, of IS operations are now conducted by affiliated groups within Africa.
Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, has stated to the Associated Press the potential for further casualties as search efforts continue in the aftermath of the attack.
“More than 21 people were shot dead inside and outside [the church] and we have recorded at least three charred bodies and several houses burned. But the search is continuing.”
Father Aime Lokana Dhego, a local priest, told the AFP news agency: “We have at least 31 dead members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement, with six seriously injured. Some young people were kidnapped, we have no news of them.”
He added that seven other bodies had been found elsewhere in the town.
The UN-sponsored Radio Okapi website put the number of dead at 43.
An army spokesperson has confirmed 10 deaths.
In 2021, DR Congo authorized the deployment of Ugandan troops within its borders to assist in combating the ADF. Despite this intervention, attacks have persisted.
Komanda is situated within DR Congo’s Ituri province, a region rich in mineral resources that has been subject to protracted conflict involving diverse armed factions.
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
President Mahama leads the tributes, saying “his enduring legacy will echo through the ages”.
Maurice Kamto came second to 92-year-old Paul Biya in the previous election amid allegations of fraud.
A major exhibition about the dangerous lives of the boys and young men who scour slag heaps in search of copper.
A selection of the week’s best photos from across the African continent and beyond.
The Ipoa links most of the 65 deaths over four days of demonstrations to actions by the police.