The rebel organization ADF (allied Democratic Forces) associated with the Islamic State in Eastern Congo did on a Catholic Church. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the attack took place in Komanda city of Uturi province at 1 am on Sunday (27 July 2025), in which 38 people were killed and several houses and shops were set on fire.

According to local civil society coordinator Duranthabo, the bodies are still lying on the spot and the mass grave is being excavated so that the victims can be buried in the church premises. A video related to the attack is also becoming increasingly viral on social media, in which the bodies scattered on the church, the bodies scattered on the floor are visible. The families of the dead are in great grief due to this attack. Earlier, a similar attack occurred in Machongani village in which at least 5 people were killed.

ADF’s bloody history with Islamic State
ADF, ie Allid Democratic Force, is originally an armed group established in Uganda in the late 1990s. It originated from dissatisfaction that was against the then President Yovery Museveni. After the action of the Uganda Army in 2002, ADF started its activities in Congo. In 2019, the group officially took an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State. Since then, ADF has killed thousands of innocent civilians and has made Eastern Congo a stronghold of terror.

How many were killed in the attack? Statistics still incompatible
After this horrific incident, the difference in numbers is being seen. Congo Army spokesman Lt Jules Nagongo has confirmed 10 deaths. At the same time, according to the report of United Nations -backed Radio Okapi, at least 43 people have been killed. According to local activists, the actual figure can be more than 34. The attackers came from the stronghold of ADF, 12 km from Komanda and escaped before the security forces arrived.

Big question on the safety of citizens
Citizen leader Duranthabo questioned the failure of the administration and the army and said that this city is where all the security forces are present, yet such a massacre happened. He demanded immediate military intervention and warned that more enemies are still very close to our city. Eastern Congo is already struggling with M33 rebel, Rwanda -backed rebellion and ADF terrorism. This attack also indicates the failed security system of the region.

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Catholic Church Pope: On Saturday (May 03, 2025), world leaders are gathering in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, so many Catholic are considering whether the church may soon choose its first black pope? Since the death of Francis on the day of Easter, a name in the Vatican is drawing attention, that is Ghana’s cardinal Peter Turkon.

In 2010, Turkson said that he is not ready to become a pope and may not be ready for the church. He had said, “I don’t want to be the first black pope. I think you will have to face difficult times.” But Africa is growing in the Catholic population. Of the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, 20 percent now live on this continent, while the church is struggling to maintain followers in Europe, rapidly secular. Now some people believe that this is the right time for the first black pope.

Who is Peter Turkon?

76-year-old cardinal Peter Turkon grew up in a small town of Gold Coast under British rule. They have 10 siblings and they come at number four. His father worked in the mine and as a carpenter, while his mother used to sell vegetables in the market. Turkson did her studies at Ghana and Seminary in New York. He later studied Bible in Rome. Pope John Paul II made him the archbishop of Cape Coast in 1992 and in 2003 he became the first cardinal in the history of Ghana.

John Paul’s successor Benedict brought him to the Vatican in 2009 and made him the head of the Paramdharmapeeth Council for justice and peace. There he became one of the closest advisors of the Pope and started working on issues like climate change as well as economic justice. Turkson has experience to have strong connections with local circles in Ghana and lead the Vatican offices.

Although preparations are being made for the conference to be held by the church to choose its next Pope, but Turkson is not the only African name. Also, they will not be the first African who will become the Pope. Earlier, North Africa Pope Victor- First Church has been led during 189 to 199. Miles Patanden, a historian of Catholicism at the University of Oxford, said, “The feeling has developed that if the Pope wants to become a global officer, he will have to come from the global church.”

‘There is no talk about discrimination’

Some African Catholic also feel neglected. On the condition of anonymity, a Kangoli pastor told the French news agency AFP, “Even though it is not clear among our European brothers, discrimination is still a reality that we do not talk about often.” He said that the church has progressed, but that is why no African Pope is made in 1,500 years.

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