A Christian woman abducted by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters during an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2022 has been rescued by Ugandan soldiers, ending more than four years of captivity marked by sexual abuse and pressure to abandon her faith.
Katungu Mbaka Darke was taken from Lume village in July 2022 when armed members of the ADF attacked the community at about 9 p.m., according to International Christian Concern (ICC), which reported her rescue on Oct. 21.
During captivity, Darke said, her captors subjected her to sexual violence and pressured her to accept Islam and memorize verses from the Quran.
“I was still young when I was abducted,” she said in remarks published by ICC. “One of them forced me into sex. They also forced me to accept Islam and memorize some Quranic verses. I just accepted, but in my heart, I knew Jesus was God.”
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.
During her captivity, Darke had two children with an ADF fighter, ICC reported.
Her return has brought relief to relatives and members of her community who had feared she would never come home.
Kimbi Tsobo, chief of Lume village, confirmed her abduction and described the impact of her disappearance on the family and community.
“Katungu was abducted, and her family had reached a point where they believed they would never see her again,” Tsobo said, according to ICC. “Her return is a deeply emotional moment for the family and the entire community.”
Tsobo added that a burial ceremony had been held after her disappearance as relatives and community members sought closure amid uncertainty over her fate.
“We thank God that she has come back alive after all these years,” he said.
Kasereka Mapathi Japhet, chief of the Rwenzori sector, also condemned the abduction, saying such acts were unacceptable, ICC reported.
Church leaders in Mutwanga welcomed Darke’s return and expressed gratitude for her survival. One church leader said her rescue was a reminder not to forget people who remain missing after being taken by armed groups.
The circumstances of her captivity illustrate the dangers faced by civilians abducted by the ADF, an armed group active in eastern Congo and linked to the Islamic State group.
Civilians remain at risk
The ADF has carried out repeated attacks on civilians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, killing people, abducting others and forcing families to flee their homes.
In a May 2026 report, Amnesty International documented attacks by ADF fighters involving killings, abductions, forced labor, child recruitment and sexual violence against women and girls. The organization said civilians remained a primary target of the group's violence.
The United Nations has also reported continuing ADF attacks in Ituri and parts of North Kivu. In a statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council in October, the U.N. Human Rights Office said it had attributed 319 human rights abuses to the ADF between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15, affecting more than 1,500 victims.
The figures include abuses against civilians across the affected provinces and are not limited to Christians.
The ongoing violence has compounded insecurity and disrupted family and church life. Some attacks have targeted predominantly Christian communities, while abductions and other abuses have affected civilians across the region.
Darke’s rescue offers a rare positive development amid the continuing violence. But returning home after years of captivity may bring its own challenges, including rebuilding family relationships and recovering from physical and psychological trauma.
ICC called for prayer for Darke and for others who remain in captivity, separated from their families and communities.
Her return has ended years of uncertainty for those who feared she had died. Many other families in eastern Congo, however, continue to wait for news of relatives who disappeared during attacks by armed groups.
