Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) Claims Killing 74 Christians In One Week’s Operations In Democratic Republic Of Congo

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In recent days, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has continued its attacks on Christian civilians in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the week since June 9, 2024, ISCAP has claimed responsibility for the killing of 74 Christian civilians, 19 of whom were reportedly beheaded.

On June 14, ISCAP claimed that on June 12, its fighters attacked the Christian village of Mikango, in the DRC's North-Kivu province, killing more than 45 Christians and causing the remaining villagers to flee. The fighters then looted the village, and burned some houses and stores before returning to their bases safely.[1]

ISCAP claimed a second attack in North-Kivu province on June 12, reporting that its fighters captured and beheaded six Christians in the village of Masongo. The remaining villagers fled.[2]

On June 11, ISCAP claimed another two attacks on Christian villages in northeast DRC. ISCAP fighters attacked Mabanga village and four adjacent villages with machine guns, causing the residents to flee, looting their houses and setting fire to a number of them.[3] On the same day, in the village of Malia in the DRC's Ituri province, ten villagers were beheaded, leading the surviving residents to seek refuge outside the village. ISCAP fighters then seized some of the villagers' possessions and burned several homes.[4]

Attacks also occurred on June 9 and 10. Thirteen Christians were killed, houses looted and homes burned in three attacks in North-Kivu province.[5]

ISCAP assaults on Christian civilians have been ongoing, routinely featuring beheading, looting and the burning of homes. In a particularly large ISCAP attack, claimed on June 7, more than 60 Christian villagers were reportedly beheaded.[6]