Her column The Truth Will Set You Free is geared towards all age groups, backgrounds and professions. Katelyn aspires to inform readers of major legislative, political and humanitarian activity, in order to supply the general public with an unbiased analysis that allows them to cultivate opinions by their own free will. This column will not engage in ideological favoritism or promote party identification to any degree.
*SENSORY WARNING: The following content contains gruesome accounts of religious persecution taking place in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. The truth is gruesome, so if you choose to read, let this be a point of caution.*
For the past decade, Christians in Africa have been subjected to mass persecution by the hands of extremist rebel groups. The situation particularly escalated over the Lent and Easter holiday, sparking outrage across the globe. After addressing the current events that have taken place from 2022 onward, we’ll look at recent developments in the United States that are and aren’t related to the African persecutions.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN AFRICA – PAST
In 2022, Mozambique bore the brunt of religious persecution as the country’s rate of targeted attacks became the 2nd highest – Nigeria reaching 3rd. The majority of these attacks carried out by the Islamic State group (IS) targeted Christians in central Africa. Aside from these countries, religious persecution is also dangerously high in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Needless to say, many countries in Africa are highly dangerous for Christians or any religion that conflicts with Islam. This is not a new development for the continent.
From 1996 to 1997, Congo and Rwanda were thrown into the First Congo War as Rwandan forces were in pursuit of Hutu extremists. These extremists had just caused the great Rwandan Genocide where almost one million ethnic Tutsi were slaughtered, and they fled to Congo. As Rwandan forces invaded Congo with blunt force, the DRC responded similarly causing the beginning of the war. Then in 1998, the Second Congo War began which deteriorated relations with neighboring regions and brought Uganda into the mix.
Since then, the sub-Saharan region of Africa has endured brutal conflict.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN AFRICA – RECENT
Early this year, Congo struck another point of conflict with the Rwandan-backed terrorist group “M23”. While there are over 100 rebel groups in Eastern Congo, M23 is one of the deadliest alongside the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The M23 was able to capture the Eastern DRC hub “Goma” that is located along the Rwandan border, before a ceasefire was declared on February 4th. M23 declared it unilateral. The Council on Foreign Relations analyzes that M23 is vying for territory and natural resources that rest in Eastern Congo, as other rebel groups have since the late 1990s. They also say that the situation in Congo is considered “one of the largest and deadliest humanitarian crises in the world”; and the National Catholic Reporter calls it a “silent genocide”, similar to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. However, this is not just a pursuit of abundant natural resources in a neighboring country – these rebel groups largely persecute religious groups in these regions.
The Vatican News reports that their methods and actions are intended to instill fear and control over the region in whatever capacity.
On February 13th or 15th, 70 people were found beheaded in a church close to the Rwanda & Uganda border in the DRC. They have been identified as local Christians murdered by ADF militants – a group that has prolific ties with ISIS. The ADF is known for targeting and beheading Christians, while also kidnapping individuals to take them as slaves and/or fighters.
The Orthodox Public Affairs Committee condemned this tragedy as a “heinous act perpetrated in a sacred place of worship”, thereby violating human rights and imposing an assault on religious freedom. A similar tragedy is unfolding in Nigeria, as over 60 Christians were killed earlier this month and 57 more on Palm Sunday – a religious holiday recognized by Christians worldwide.
Open Doors releases a “World Watch List” annually, to track highly oppressive countries on behalf of governments, terrorism, etc. This year, North Korea is listed as #1 followed by Somalia, Yemen, Libya and Sudan. Congo is listed as #35 with a violence rate of 96.5% on behalf of Islamic oppression.
CONGO
The World Bank reports that, although Congo is vastly endowed with resources like minerals, arable land and a large biodiverse ecosystem, the citizens do not benefit from this prosperity. Known as the “resource curse”, this happens when an entity or country hosts an abundant supply of resources without dispersing to the people of the land the wealth gained from marketing these resources. Additionally, Congo has been subjected to historical conflict, constant political upheaval, and authoritarian rule. The country is ranked as among the five poorest countries in the world, with 1 in 6 people living in extreme poverty in the DRC.
In 2023, Congo had a general election where Félix Tshisekedi was re-elected for his 2nd five-year term. From this election, Félix’ cabinet also won majority parliamentarian seats thereby “consolidating political power”. In May of 2024, the country introduced a new government with the high expectations for coming reform. However, it is reported that 20% of the DRC territory is controlled by rebels.
Freedom House reports that despite their efforts at reform, the Congolese are not free and remain oppressed. In 2022, their political rights were ranked 4/40, and civil liberties were ranked 15/60. As of 2024-2025, the political rights ranking remains the same while the civil liberties ranking has fallen to 14/60. The study also explains that, regardless of the new government and promises of reform, the country still suffers from a manipulated electoral process controlled by the political elites.
To keep the peace, the UN Security Council had established MONUSCO in 2010 to “use all necessary means to carry out its mandate of relating to the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and human rights defenders under imminent threat of physical violence. For the DRC, this was intended to support the government in stabilization and peace efforts.
However, MONUSCO was requested to be withdrawn from the country by the DRC.
DIPLOMATIC RESPONSES
As of February, the UK Parliament presented a motion as a charge for accountability and prioritization of the protection of civilians in the region. The US has not made any definitive statement directed at the violence in Congo or other sub-Saharan countries.
Here is how the US has responded:
On February 19th, the US had given full support to the MONUSCO initiative in the DRC. They urged the M23 rebel group to cease all offensives and fully withdraw from all territory they had captured. Likewise, the US urged Rwanda to cease their support of M23, overall condemning human rights abuses.
As of March 12th, Chairman Chris Smith delivered a comment on persecution in Nigeria, but nothing has been said of Congo. The US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has moved to urge President Trump to impose sanctions on Nigeria, due to rising Christian persecution.
The Trump administration is currently centering their efforts around protecting religious freedom in the U.S. by establishing a Task Force. Pam Bondi led the first meeting on April 22nd, as President Trump has stated that he is eager to end anti-Christian weaponization of government.
Should Trump focus on defending Christians abroad? Is this U.S. Task Force necessary? How vast is Christian persecution in America? Should the UN get involved in the sub-Saharan region despite Congo’s request that they withdraw? That is for you to decide.
RESEARCH
EU
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-001018_EN.html
Vatican
BBC
BBC Monitoring – Essential Media Insight
National Catholic
UK Parliament
Open Doors
Washington Times
Christian Post
UN
Council on Foreign Relations
World Bank
World Report
Freedom House
VOA
US House
https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/africa-subcommittee-chairman-smith-delivers-opening-remarks-at-hearing-on-religious-persecutions-in-nigeria/
Washington Post
White House
US Office of Public Affairs
Interfaith
Persecution.org