Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku mourns the rebel attack that killed 43 in Ituri, calling for peace and protection in eastern Congo.
Newsroom (09/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In the aftermath of one of the most violent assaults witnessed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this year, Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku of the Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni has expressed deep sorrow and condemnation following a rebel attack that left at least 43 civilians dead in Ituri Province. The overnight raid, carried out between April 2 and April 3 in Bafwakao village, Mambasa Territory, has amplified fears about growing insecurity in the region.
The assailants, identified by local sources as members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—a group affiliated with the Islamic State—reportedly invaded the village around 8 p.m., burning homes and massacring residents. Nearly 60 percent of Bafwakao’s dwellings were reduced to ashes. Residents described harrowing scenes: corpses strewn along the main road, others mutilated with machetes or shot, and houses still smoldering by morning. Authorities initially reported ten bodies, civil society counted 32, and by dusk the army confirmed the death toll at 43.
A Call for Peace Amid Sorrow
Presiding over Easter celebrations on April 5, Bishop Paluku delivered a poignant homily that combined grief with a renewed call for peace and unity. He urged national leaders to prioritize protection of life and property and to “invest in the search for peace to ensure national unity.” His voice trembled with empathy as he extended solidarity not only to the people of Ituri, but also to those in North and South Kivu and other conflict-torn corners of the world—including Israel—where Easter could not be observed in peace.
“The Passion of Christ was not His defeat. He was not overcome,” Bishop Paluku reminded the faithful, framing the tragedy within the broader Christian understanding of suffering and redemption. He encouraged believers to reject violence and uphold human dignity, stressing that rising with Christ entails fulfilling one’s earthly duties faithfully, even amid turmoil. “Each person must do their duty as it should be done,” he said.
Worsening Insecurity and Civil Displacement
Human rights defender John Vuleveryo Musombolwa painted a grim picture of the consequences: kidnappings, mass displacement, and an atmosphere of panic following the attack. Thousands fled towards safer neighborhoods—Afrique du Sud, Darsalam, Pays-Bas, and Hewabora—leaving Bafwakao almost deserted.
Musombolwa commended the intervention of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), yet he warned that the response had been insufficient. “The enemy is already at the center of Mambasa. The chief town risks being emptied if the authorities do not take the situation seriously,” he cautioned, urging immediate reinforcement of security operations.
ADF’s Expanding Reach
The ADF, originating from Uganda in the 1990s, has entrenched its operations across eastern Congo, defying repeated joint offensives by Congolese and Ugandan troops. Once considered remote from jihadist incursions, Bafwakao now stands as a symbol of the shifting epicenter of violence. Civil society representatives have accused the military of responding too slowly to attacks—arriving only the next morning after rebels had fled—which has inflamed distrust between villagers and the army. The territorial administrator maintains that FARDC soldiers intervened during the night, but local witnesses dispute this, pointing to a pattern of delayed reactions that expose communities to further danger.
Adding to the chaos, residents reportedly lynched a suspected ADF fighter two kilometers from downtown Mambasa, in Arua II neighborhood, after recognizing him as one of the assailants. The incident reflects growing frustration and fear among civilians who perceive official protection as unreliable.
A Nation’s Cry for Security
For Bishop Paluku, the tragedy in Bafwakao is not just another entry in the cycle of bloodshed—it is a moral challenge. His words resonated beyond the church walls, a reminder that spiritual resilience must accompany state action if peace is ever to take root in Congo’s troubled east. As residents mourn their dead and rebuild what is left of their homes, the bishop’s appeal remains a haunting refrain: without unity, vigilance, and compassion, the dream of peace will remain elusive.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Africa
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