Church bombing that claimed 10 lives is blamed on rebels by the government

The Democratic Republic of Congo government blames Islamic State group-affiliated rebels in an attack on a Kasindi Pentecostal Church in Kasindi, east of the country.

Officials claim that ten people were killed while attending Sunday worship.

At least 39 people were injured and the Congolese military described the incident as a terrorist act by the Allied Democratic Forces.

The ADF is one the most well-known rebel groups in eastern Congo.

In a statementThe Congolese government “strongly condemned” the bomb attack that was apparently carried out by ADF terrorists.

It sent its “deepest condolences” to the families that were affected by “this despicable terrorist attack”.

The UN mission in DR Congo condemned Kasindi: “The cowardly, despicable attack”

Antony Mualushayi (Congolese military spokesperson) said the same thing. “It is evident that this is an terrorist act perpetrated primarily by the ADF terrorists, who have been killed on numerous battlefields by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

Mualushayi said that an “improvised explosive devices” was used in the attack.

Kasindi lies approximately 8km (5 miles) from Beni.

The country’s UN top representative stated that security was “one the most serious challenges” in DR Congo in December.

The ADF, an Islamist militant organization, was established in 1990. It is primarily concerned about domestic grievances within Uganda.

Since its re-emergence in DR Congo, with a series jihadist attacks on Congolese civilians, the ADF has claimed increasing attacks in the name the so-called Islamic State group.