Five Christians were brutally beheaded on January 24, 2026, by fighters of the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) in the village of Musenge, located in the Lubero District of North Kivu province in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to local reports and statements from the group. ISCAP — formerly known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — has claimed responsibility for the killing of over 800 Christians in northeastern DRC since December 2024, when violence against Christian communities sharply escalated. The extremist group celebrated the latest killings on social media, glorifying the brutality as part of its ideology.
The victims were among at least 25 civilians murdered during ISCAP attacks in the area, which also included the burning of homes, a church building, and a health center. Fighters razed 63 houses, destroying most of the village and forcing survivors to flee amid deep trauma and fear.
The attack in Musenge reflects a broader pattern of escalating violence by ISCAP across North Kivu, with Christian villages repeatedly targeted. Local leaders have warned of worsening insecurity and a lack of effective protection for civilians.
This latest atrocity follows similar ISCAP-claimed killings, including beheadings in Bukia on January 16, the murder of seven Christians in Mafwi days later, and six additional believers killed in Ituri province on January 23, underscoring the persistent threat facing Christians in eastern D.R. Congo.