A Christian woman abducted by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in 2022 has been rescued by Ugandan soldiers after more than four years in captivity.
Katungu Mbaka Darke was taken from Lume village in July 2022, when armed ADF members attacked the community at around 9pm. International Christian Concern (ICC), which reported her rescue on 21 October, said she had suffered sexual violence and pressure to abandon her Christian faith during her captivity.
Darke said her captors forced her to have sex and tried to make her accept Islam and memorise verses from the Quran. Although she went along with their demands, she said she continued to believe in Jesus.
“I was still young when I was abducted,” she said in comments published by ICC. “One of them forced me into sex. They also forced me to accept Islam and memorise some Quranic verses. I just accepted, but in my heart, I knew Jesus was God.”
Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldiers rescued Darke in Ituri Province. ICC did not give the date of the rescue operation or explain the circumstances in which she was found.
During her years in captivity, Darke had two children with an ADF fighter, according to ICC.
Her return has brought relief to her family and the wider community, who had feared they would never see her again.
Kimbi Tsobo, chief of Lume village, confirmed that Darke had been abducted. He said her family had lost hope of seeing her return and described her rescue as an emotional moment for the community.
Tsobo also revealed that a burial ceremony had been held after her disappearance, as relatives struggled to come to terms with not knowing what had happened to her.
He said the community was grateful that she had returned alive after so many years.
Kasereka Mapathi Japhet, chief of the Rwenzori sector, also condemned the abduction, describing such acts as unacceptable, ICC reported.
Church leaders in Mutwanga welcomed Darke’s return and thanked God for her survival. One church leader said her rescue should also remind people of others who remain missing after being taken by armed groups.
The ADF is an armed group operating in eastern DR Congo and is linked to the Islamic State organisation. It has carried out repeated attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, killing and abducting civilians and forcing families to flee their homes.
In a report published in May 2026, Amnesty International documented ADF abuses against civilians, including killings, abductions, forced labour, recruitment of children and sexual violence against women and girls. The organisation said civilians continued to bear the brunt of the group's attacks.
The United Nations has also reported continuing ADF violence in Ituri and parts of North Kivu. In October, the UN Human Rights Office told the Human Rights Council that it had attributed 319 human rights abuses to the ADF between 1 January and 15 September, affecting more than 1,500 people.
These figures cover abuses against civilians across the affected areas and are not limited to Christians. Although some attacks have affected predominantly Christian communities, people from different backgrounds have suffered from the violence.
Darke’s rescue is a welcome development amid continuing insecurity in eastern DR Congo. However, returning after years of captivity may bring significant challenges as she rebuilds her life and reconnects with her family and community.
ICC has called for prayers for Darke and for other people who remain in captivity, separated from their loved ones.
While her return has ended years of uncertainty for her family, many others in eastern DR Congo are still waiting for news of relatives who disappeared during attacks by armed groups.
Based on reporting by CDI.
