A military operation by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces led to the rescue of Katungu Mbaka Darke, a Congolese Christian woman abducted in 2022 by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants, an armed group pledged to Islamic State. The liberation was reported by International Christian Concern (ICC).
Katungu was rescued by Ugandan soldiers in Ituri province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The operation ended more than four years of captivity under the control of Islamic extremists.
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Uganda People’s Defense Forces soldiers eventually rescued Darke in Ituri province, although ICC did not specify the date of the operation or provide details about the circumstances leading to her recovery. Africa News YT screenshot Photo: christiandaily.com (aguardando autorização)
The Raid in Lume and Years of Captivity
Extremists abducted the young woman from Lume village in July 2022 around 9 p.m., when armed ADF fighters attacked the community. Throughout her captivity, Katungu endured continuous sexual violence and relentless pressure to renounce her Christian faith.
During her time in captivity, she gave birth to two children fathered by an ADF fighter. Her captors forced her to memorize Quranic verses and demanded that she embrace Islam.
Despite daily pressure and physical abuse, she maintained her faith in secret. Speaking to ICC following her rescue, Katungu recalled her quiet resolve: "They forced me to accept Islam and memorize some Quranic verses. I just accepted, but in my heart, I knew Jesus was God".
The prolonged lack of news led relatives and Lume residents to lose hope of finding her alive. In eastern Congo, where militant raids leave thousands dead, extended disappearances typically mean the victim did not survive.
Lume village chief Kimbi Tsobo confirmed that her family had already held a burial ceremony to process their grief amidst complete uncertainty regarding her fate. The symbolic service allowed the community to mourn her assumed death.
"Katungu was abducted, and her family had reached a point where they believed they would never see her again," Tsobo said. He described her return as an emotional moment for both her relatives and the entire village, expressing gratitude that she returned alive after so many years.
Church leaders in nearby Mutwanga welcomed her return. A local pastor noted that Katungu's rescue serves as a reminder to pray for and remember the many individuals who remain captive in the region.
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ADF Extremism in Eastern Congo
The Allied Democratic Forces represent one of the most severe security threats to civilians and Christian communities in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Originating in Uganda before moving into Congolese territory, the group affiliated with Islamic State and ramped up attacks, plunder, and abductions.
A report released in May 2026 by Amnesty International documented widespread ADF atrocities, including targeted killings, forced labor, child soldier recruitment, and sexual violence against women.
The United Nations Human Rights Office attributed 319 human rights abuses to the ADF between January 1 and September 15. Those attacks affected more than 1,500 victims in eastern DR Congo, devastating families and disrupting church life.
Katungu's experience echoes Psalm 34:18, which reminds believers: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Returning Home and the Road to Recovery
Kasereka Mapathi Japhet, chief of the Rwenzori sector, condemned the abductions and called such violence unacceptable.
While her rescue brings relief, reintegrating into community life presents significant physical and psychological challenges. Katungu returns home with two young children born during her captivity and faces the process of rebuilding her life in a village that had already mourned her death.
ICC called for prayer for Katungu and for the countless other families in eastern DR Congo still waiting for news of loved ones taken by armed groups.
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