Shocking Massacre Leaves Dozens Dead

70 Christians beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as global leaders and mainstream media remain silent.

Top Takeaways

Islamic State-linked ADF militants executed 70 Christians in a Protestant church in northeastern DRC.
The massacre highlights ongoing jihadist violence in the region, with over 200 killed in the past month.
International media and world leaders have largely ignored this atrocity, sparking criticism.
Calls grow for increased global action to protect civilians and persecuted Christians in the DRC.

Brutal Attack Shocks Christian Community

In a horrifying act of violence, 70 Christians were beheaded inside a Protestant church in Kasanga, located in the Lubero territory of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The massacre, carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with ties to the Islamic State, has sent shockwaves through the Christian community and raised alarm about the escalating persecution of religious minorities in the region.

Please pray the 70 Christians that were beheaded may rest in peace.
Please pray for the grieving families. pic.twitter.com/5gEHCXz3qF

— James Blazsik (@BlazsikJames) February 21, 2025

The attack occurred on February 13 in the village of Maybe, where militants initially took 20 people hostage before kidnapping an additional 50 individuals. The victims were forced into an abandoned church, where they were brutally executed. The dire security situation in the area had previously led to the church’s abandonment, leaving it vulnerable to such atrocities.

Families Too Frightened to Bury the Dead

In the aftermath of the massacre, families of the deceased were too terrified to immediately bury their loved ones, highlighting the pervasive fear that grips the region. Many surviving Christians have fled the area, seeking safety from the ongoing violence. This mass exodus underscores the severe threat posed by jihadist groups and the inadequate protection provided to civilian populations.

The ADF, responsible for this atrocity, aims to overthrow the governments of both the DRC and Uganda to establish an Islamic caliphate. Their increased activities in northeastern DRC have resulted in at least 200 deaths in the past month alone, indicating a disturbing escalation of violence against civilians, particularly Christians.

International Silence and Calls for Action

Despite the scale and brutality of the attack, international media coverage has been notably sparse, with few public officials commenting on the massacre. This silence has drawn criticism from various quarters, including human rights organizations and government officials from countries like Hungary.

“Horrified to learn about the 70 Christian martyrs beheaded by terrorists in a church in Kasanga, DRC. Hungary stands in solidarity with the persecuted Christians BUT we need more … the world needs to recognize and act against Christian persecution.” – Tristan Azbej

Open Doors, a Christian persecution watchdog organization, has strongly condemned the violence and called for immediate action from civil societies, governments, and international organizations to prioritize the protection of civilians in eastern DRC. The organization reported an alarming increase in Christian killings in the DRC, with 355 killed in 2024 compared to 261 in 2023.

Why isn’t the media talking about the 70 Christians that were just beheaded?https://t.co/16Dy1vOPpv

— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) February 21, 2025

A Crisis Ignored

The massacre in Kasanga is part of a broader pattern of violence that has plagued the DRC for decades. Jeff King of International Christian Concern highlighted that this incident is just one piece of a grim tapestry of violence that has claimed over 6 million lives in the DRC over two decades of on-and-off war.

“This recent massacre, where 70 Christians lost their lives, is not an isolated incident but part of a grim tapestry of violence that has claimed over 6 million lives in the DRC over two decades of on-and-off war.” – Jeff King

The DRC, a predominantly Christian country, faces ongoing instability with various rebel groups, including M23, capturing key cities and displacing over 100,000 people. The Ugandan government has sent troops to fight the ADF, but they have struggled against these well-organized militant groups.

As the world largely turns a blind eye to this crisis, the people of the DRC continue to suffer. The recent massacre serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to protect vulnerable communities and put an end to the cycle of violence that has devastated this region for far too long.