Following the publication of photos from the 2026 Tabaski celebrations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP), which includes the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), released numerous images, including children.

The images have triggered concerns among Christians, observers, and analysts, who view them as part of an effort to demonstrate the group’s continued presence and long-term ambitions in the region.

“Our hearts are heavy as we witness the continued suffering of our brothers and sisters in our region,” a Baptist pastor in Oicha said. “Since the beginning of May, many Christians have lost their lives, and hardly a day goes by without news of another Christian family mourning a loved one killed by the ADF. We are especially troubled by the group’s recent publication of images showing children in their camps. These images are a painful reminder that the threat facing Christian communities remains serious and ongoing. We call on authorities and the international community not to forget the people living in fear every day and to take urgent action to protect innocent lives.”

For many years, the ADF has been responsible for attacks against Christians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, where thousands of them have been killed, displaced, or abducted. Among the victims are women and girls who, according to testimonies from escapees and survivors, have been subjected to indoctrination and forced marriages within the group.

“This communication seeks to demonstrate that the group will remain operational for many years, as children who are born and raised in radicalism and indoctrination go on to enforce the rules of these systems without mercy,” Fiston Mahamba said. “The Islamic State’s central leadership has chosen to conceal the faces of adult members, who are often sent on missions into populated areas, but has preferred to leave the children’s faces visible because they do not move about without supervision.”

The publication of these images shows the continuing threat posed by Islamic extremist groups in eastern DRC. Apart from the immediate violence, the use of children in propaganda raises concerns about the long-term viability of these networks and the ongoing vulnerability of Christian communities that remain a primary target of attacks, abductions, and persecution in the region.

As insecurity continues across North Kivu and Ituri, local churches, community leaders, and humanitarian organizations are calling for greater protection of civilians and renewed international attention to the plight of Christians living under the constant threat of extremist violence.

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