Days of Distress and Exodus at the Dehonian Mission of Nduye
The people of Nduye, a small village in the Ituri province of the DRC, have been living in fear for the past three days following the intensification of attacks by the ADF rebel group. The Superior General invites everyone to pray for this Dehonian mission.
Faced with the advance and attacks of the ADF armed group, the village of Nduye, located in the heart of the Ituri forest, was plunged into anxiety, forcing the population and the Dehonian missionary community to evacuate.
Indeed, on Tuesday afternoon, the usual calm shattered. Detonations of gunfire echoed for hours around the locality. The cause: an attempted incursion by ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels, quickly repelled by the response of Congolese (FARDC) and Ugandan (UPDF) soldiers stationed nearby.
While the shots appeared to be warning fire intended to deter the attackers, the psychological impact on the population was immediate. The persistence of these tensions pushed many residents to flee, leaving behind closed schools, abandoned farm work, and halted construction sites. Faced with this distress, the Dehonian mission also made the decision to evacuate to Mambasa, the neighboring main town, starting with the 
safety of the boarding school children, who were transported by truck. A missionary on site testifies:
“On the 50-kilometer journey, the observation is striking: Nduye has emptied of its population. Along the dirt road, entire families are walking on foot, carrying their few belongings in small bundles. Some have already covered 20, 30, or 40 kilometers, still in shock.”
The SCJ confreres, the religious sisters, and the young people from the boarding school are now safely welcomed by the Dehonian community in Mambasa. The village of Nduye remains deserted for the time being, pending a full assessment of the situation by security forces before considering a return.
Faced with this critical situation, the Superior General, Father Carlos Luis Suárez, invites the entire Dehonian family to pray for the swift restoration of peace and for the protection of all those affected by these conflicts and displacements.
Contextualization
Present in eastern DRC (North Kivu and Ituri) since 1897 under the leadership of Bishop Gabriel Grison, the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians) continue their pastoral mission there today, notably in Kiragho, Mambasa, and Nduye. However, their area of action, disrupted by armed activism for three decades, faces heightened insecurity linked to the expansion of the ADF/NALU terrorist group (affiliated with Islamic State), which now extends from Beni to the Nduye forest.
Nduye is the mission site of Venerable Bernard Longo, SCJ, and it is here that his tomb is located. The Dehonians perpetuate his missionary legacy there, notably through evangelization and support for indigenous peoples, particularly at Mater Dei parish, the hospital, and the boarding school for Pygmy youth.
