Source: World Watch Monitor, February 3, 2016
In central Africa, a brutal militant Islamic group has embedded itself in the eastern extremes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Muslim Defense International (MDI)—formerly known as the Alliance of Democratic Forces—has become embedded in the region and is attempting to rid the area of its Christians to create a foothold of Islam in the wider Lakes region.
The MDI has been repeatedly attacking the mostly Christian population in these parts of DRC for years. Kidnapping and murder are common. Although their successes ebb and flow, they continue to display surprising strength and have found a firm foothold where they can prepare for jihad into the Lakes Region, the heart of Africa.
Islamic militancy in Africa is part of a broader, global ideological current. Groups taking inspiration from IS have, over the past year, claimed the lives of thousands of Christians on the continent, holding Christians captive from Mali in the west to Somalia in the east.
» Pray for the DRC (Prayercast). Readers might also be interested in learning more about the story of Salah, an East African Muslim who risked his life to protect Christians from terrorists, eventually dying from the wounds he sustained in doing so (Answering Islam).