KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Islamist extremists are suspected of killing more than 20 villagers in a predominately Christian region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Allied Democratic Forces used machetes to kill more than a dozen people May 28 before members of the army could respond, stated the relief group Barnabas Fund, quoting an army spokesman.
ADF is aligned with the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh).
The massacre happened in Beu Manyama village in North Kivu province. The Red Cross said 24 were killed, but Kivu Security Tracker, a group monitoring violence in the North Kivu province, put the number of dead at 27.
The Red Cross further said soldiers discovered 17 decapitated bodies May 27 in Ituri province. ADF is suspected in those slayings as well.
A Ugandan church leader quoted by Barnabas Fund said many people are fleeing the DRC to take refuge in Uganda.
The DRC is No. 40 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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