DRC government blames ADF rebels for church bombing which killed 10

The Democratic Republic of Congo government has blamed Islamic State group-affiliated rebels for a bomb attack at a Pentecostal church in Kasindi, in the east of the country.

Ten people were killed as church-goers attended Sunday worship, officials say.

At least 39 were wounded and the Congolese military described it as a “terrorist act” by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The ADF is one of the most notorious active rebel groups in eastern Congo.

In a statement, the Congolese government “strongly condemned” the bomb attack, which it says was “visibly perpetrated by ADF terrorists”.

It expressed its “deepest condolences” to the bereaved families who were victims of “this despicable terrorist act”.

The UN mission in DR Congo condemned “the cowardly and despicable attack” in Kasindi.

Its comments were echoed by Congolese military spokesman Antony Mualushayi, who said: “It is clear that this is a terrorist act perpetrated by the ADF terrorists who have suffered casualties in several battlefields by the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo”.

Mr Mualushayi added that an “improvised explosive device” was used in the attack.

Kasindi is roughly 8 kilometres (5 miles) away from Beni where the ADF is active.

Back in December, the top UN representative in the country told the Security Council security is “one of the most significant challenges” faced by DR Congo.

The ADF, an Islamist militant group, was formed in the 1990s and is primarily concerned with domestic grievances within Uganda.

But since it re-emerged in DR Congo – with a series of attacks on Congolese civilians and a more global jihadist dimension – the ADF has increasingly claimed attacks in the name of the so-called Islamic State group.