Blast at Baptism Service in DR Congo Kills 16 Christians

January 23rd, 2023

Awake Goy

Remains of church building bombed in Kasindi, DRC, on Jan. 15, 2023. (Morning Star News)

NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Muslim militants were suspected in the bombing of a Protestant church baptism service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that killed at least 16 worshippers on Jan. 15, a military official said.

A spokesman for Uganda’s military operations in the DRC, Bilal Katamba, reportedly said the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were suspected in the blast that killed 16 people and wounded at least 20 others of the Church of Christ of the Congo (Eglise du Christ au Congo, or ECC) in Kasindi, in the eastern DRC. The Islamic State claims the ADF, an Islamist rebel group, as its affiliate in central Africa.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying “nearly 20” people were killed, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP), citing the SITE Intelligence Group. DRC officials have said at least 14 died and 63 were wounded in the bombing.

Church elder Paluka Kivugha said two men entered the church building and left a bag, which contained an IED that soon detonated.

“People were just flying in the air and falling down lifeless – it was a painful Sunday, everyone inside was trying to get his or her way out, but some couldn’t because their legs had gone off,” Kivugha told Morning Star News. “The bomb killed children and their parents. I was traumatized and suffered some pain all over my body, but thank God I survived.”

Church member Salome Kavugho said baptisms were taking place at the Sunday service.

“Bibles were in pieces and there was blood all over, and when I checked around me I was in a pool of blood,” Kavugho said. “I lost consciousness. I regained my consciousness in a hospital bed.”

Church member Pauni Aline, 37, suffered hand and leg injuries in the blast.

“I saw my fellow church members covered with blood, while others were crying and wailing in pain,” Aline told Morning Star News. “Indeed, it was too terrible for us at that moment. I thank God that I am alive.”

Church elder Peter Masika also survived the attack.

“This was done to threaten and reduce the number of Christians, and also to install fear in the hearts of Christians of attending church services within the province,” Masika told Morning Star News.

The ECC is a union of 62 Protestant denominations in the DRC. With 25.5 million members, it is often referred to as the Protestant Church as it comprises the majority of the country’s Protestants.

The ADF is considered one of the most lethal of more than 120 armed groups in the eastern DRC. Originally based in western Uganda, the ADF has operated in the DRC’s North Kivu Province near the border since the late 1990s. Ugandan forces have launched joint operations with the DRC military against the ADF.

In 2019 the ADF split into two factions, with one merging into the Islamic State Central Africa Province. The U.S. government in 2021 designated the ADF as a foreign terrorist organization with links to the Islamic State.

The DRC was ranked 37^th on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, up from 40^th the previous year. Muslims make up less than 3 percent of the population, with more than 85 percent of the country’s people identifying as Christian.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

###

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 728 A Kodiak St., Eielson AFB, AK 99702, USA.

The post Blast at Baptism Service in DR Congo Kills 16 Christians appeared first on Morningstar News.

Become a Christian News Network Supporter…

Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God’s word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!