ACN denounces massacre in ntoyo and alert about extreme violence in the east of the Congo

The Pontifical Foundation helps the Church in need (ACN) denounced a new perpetrated massacre between September 8 and 9 in the town of Ntoyo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where at least 64 people were killed.

According to ACN reportedthe attack that occurred in the San José de Manguredjipa parish, in the province of Kivu del Norte, was attributed to the jihadist group Allied democratic forces (ADF), ally of the Islamic State.

The aggressors “killed many while participating in a wake, using firearms and hammers, and selectively burning some homes, in what seems to be a premeditated terror strategy,” said the Foundation.

Before this new crime, the Bishop of Butembo-Beni, Mons. Melchisédch Sikuli Paluku, expressed: “To all the families affected by this nth and horrible butcher shop (…) as well as all the faithful of the parish, we express our spiritual closeness. That God, the teacher of life, makes us strong, by intercession of the Holy. the afflicted, and lead us beyond the desert of the sufferings present towards lasting peace. ”

ACN expressed his “deep dismay and solidarity with affected families,” and recalled that this attack adds to a chain of atrocities in the east of the Congo. On July 27, at least 40 people – many of them young – were killed during a prayer vigil in a church in Komanda, Ituri. In February, more than 70 bodies were found in a Protestant church in Lubero, several of them tied and beheaded.

“The situation in the east of the Congo is alarming,” said ACN. Although several provinces are under state of siege with the presence of the Congolese army, Ugandesas troops and the UN mission (Monusco), “the attacks continue, causing massive displacements and a serious humanitarian crisis.”

The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (Cenco) has also denounced that in these areas “the population remains a victim of murders and kidnappings”, and has described the facts as “odious massacres” against innocent.

Finally, ACN reiterated its commitment to the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – País that is among the ten that receives the most from the Foundation – requested prayers for the victims and their families, and urged the international community to “protect civilians, guarantee religious freedom and work for a lasting peace in this martyred region by more than 120 militias and violent groups that operate impunity”