ISIS Affiliates Threaten Religious Freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on the DRC:  

Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in the DRC – Amid ongoing political instability and chronic insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), nonstate armed groups have increasingly targeted religious communities, exploited gaps in governance, and limited civilian protection, particularly in the country’s eastern provinces. Among these actors, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as the Islamic State – Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC), presents a particularly alarming threat to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). In the past two years, the ADF has intensified its operations, waging violent attacks on houses of worship, religious leaders, and communities, which are predominantly Christian. This publication provides an overview of the ADF’s and other nonstate actors’ escalating violations of FoRB, while also examining the DRC and international responses to the crisis. 

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF highlighted religious freedom violations and U.S. sanctions related to ISIS affiliates or in central, eastern, and southern Africa. USCIRF has also examined conditions in the central region of the continent, including in a February 2023 factsheet on Central Africa.  

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].