This Week's Islamic Massacres > 72 more Christians slaughtered in the DRC; Seven more killed in Mambasa region of the DRC

 

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Muslims murder at least 72 Christians, burn down 40 homes

Sep 13, 2026 12:00 pm By Robert Spencer9 Comments

Here as in Nigeria and elsewhere, the idea is to maximize the terror that the victims feel, in accord with the Qur’anic command: “Make ready for them all that you can of force and of warhorses, so that by them you may strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy…” (Qur’an 8:60)

The jihadis burn down the Christians’ homes so that even those who survive the massacre will free the area, so that it can become “Muslim land.”

At Least 72 Christians Massacred by Islamists Across Ituri, D. R. Congo

Barnabas Aid, September 8, 2026:

The lives of at least 72 Christians have been added to the growing death toll of Islamist terrorism in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

These latest killings mean that more than 200 of our brothers and sisters have been massacred in Ituri Province since mid-July.

In the worst incident on August 28, fighters from Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) slaughtered 29 believers in the villages of Mabakoa and Biam, near Biakto.

The terrorists also burned down 40 houses as hundreds of villagers fled for safety.

The following day ISCAP fighters captured and beheaded nine Christians in the village of Amani, and killed a further two outside the village.

More than 1,370 Christians Dead

ISCAP (also known by its former name of ADF) has slaughtered more than 1,370 Christians in northeastern DRC since December 2024….

Democratic Republic of Congo: Muslims murder seven people, torch 20 houses in jihad attack on village

Sep 1, 2026 9:00 am By Robert Spencer4 Comments

Here, as always, the objective is to “strike terror in the enemies of Allah” (Qur’an 8:60), so that they flee the area and leave it for Muslims, expanding the dar al-Islam.

7 civilians killed, several missing in rebel attack in DR Congo

Anadolu Agency, August 30,2026:

At least seven civilians were killed in a weekend attack by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said on Sunday.

The attack took place in the Mambasa territory of Ituri province on Saturday, according to Alberic Kahundirwa, a local official.

“The death toll remains provisional because several people are missing. But the attackers also set fire to about 20 houses,” Kahundirwa told reporters.

The latest attack came a week after separate other attacks in various villages in the same territory left 16 people were killed and several others abducted.

The ADF is affiliated with the ISIS (Daesh) and has been active in eastern Congo for several years….

Latin America Rising > Extraordinary El Niño almost guaranteed for Peru - will upset economy; USA shifts $52m in military aid to Latin America

 

Risk of 'extraordinary' coastal El Niño rises in Peru

By Macarena Hermosilla    

Peru is expected to face an "extraordinary" coastal El Niño that could lead to critical water deficit in the Andes. File Photo by Ernesto Arias/EPA-EFE

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Peru's climate authorities have raised to 85% the probability that the coastal El Niño phenomenon will reach "extraordinary" intensity between September and January, with expected effects on transportation infrastructure, food production, water supplies and household spending.

A technical report issued Monday by the country's scientific commission known as ENFEN confirmed that the South American coast is facing abnormal ocean warming that could push temperatures to record levels.

The conditions significantly increase the threat of torrential rains, widespread flooding and severe damage to Peru's infrastructure.

According to ENFEN, the probability for September rose 10% from the 75% projected in late August. The probability of reaching extraordinary intensity falls to 82% in October, 78% in November, 70% in December and 59% in January. For February and March, the most likely scenario ranges between strong and extraordinary intensity.

ENFEN's scientific assessment, along with projections from consulting firms and economic groups under an extraordinary-intensity scenario, points to severe structural and biological consequences for Peru's fishing and agricultural sectors.

Extreme warming of surface waters dramatically alters the marine ecosystem, reducing the availability of cold-water species, particularly anchoveta, or Peruvian anchovy, which is the foundation of the country's fishmeal and fish oil industry. The fish migrate south or move into deeper waters in search of lower temperatures.

Economic projections estimate that Peru's extractive fishing sector could contract between 22% and 33.9%, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk and disrupting normal fishing seasons, the newspaper El Comercio reported.

At the same time, warmer waters encourage the arrival of warm-water species, providing temporary relief for artisanal fishers but failing to offset losses in the industrial fishing sector.

Agricultural exports and regional food security could also suffer significant setbacks from the looming climate crisis.

Along Peru's northern and central coasts, air temperatures expected to remain well above normal during the Southern Hemisphere spring could affect flowering and yields of key crops including blueberries, mangoes, avocados and lemons. Agricultural output could fall by more than 6%, potentially pushing up prices for staple foods in 2027, according to reports by Infobae.

The situation is expected to worsen beginning in November with the arrival of torrential rains and flooding that could destroy irrigation infrastructure and transportation routes. In contrast, Peru's southern Andean highlands face a critical water deficit that threatens family farming and traditional livestock production.

U.S. shifts $52 million in military aid toward Latin America

By Mar Puig    

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori greets U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a press conference at Government Palace in Lima, Peru, on September 10. Rubio was visiting Peru as part of a diplomatic tour of South America, which also included stops in Colombia and Ecuador. Photo by Paolo Aguilar/EPA

Sept. 16 (UPI) -- The Trump administration plans to redirect $52 million in military assistance previously allocated to countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa to four Latin American governments.

This marks a shift in Washington's security priorities toward the Western Hemisphere.

The State Department notified Congress on Tuesday that it intends to transfer Foreign Military Financing funds from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, according to El País.

Foreign Military Financing provides U.S. funds that recipient governments can use to purchase American defense equipment, services and military training.

The State Department said the money would be used to combat "narco-terrorism," help secure the Panama Canal and reduce the recipient countries' dependence on military supplies from U.S. adversaries.

"These funds will prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in our hemisphere," the department said, in an apparent reference to China's growing presence in Latin America.

The announcement followed Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip last week to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, where he promoted broader intelligence-sharing and coordinated security operations under the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas initiative.

Peru and Colombia joined the coalition during Rubio's regional tour, while Ecuador already was participating in its security framework. Panama also participates in the initiative.

During a joint appearance with Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, Rubio said the coalition was already becoming operational.

De La Espriella said Colombia would prioritize security cooperation, military modernization and the fight against transnational crime, according to the Colombian presidency.

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori announced her country's entry into the coalition during Rubio's Sept. 10 visit to Lima, saying membership would allow Peru to receive intelligence more quickly and respond more forcefully to criminal organizations.

The reallocation comes as Washington is also intensifying pressure on Cuba. Although the State Department has not said the $52 million is directed against Havana, all four recipient countries participate in a regional security coalition that drew sharp criticism from Cuba when it was established.

President Donald Trump formally introduced Shield of the Americas at a March 7 summit in Florida. During the gathering, Trump said Cuba was in its "last moments" under its current political system and predicted that the island would have "a great new life," Diario de Cuba reported.

Trump also said he and Rubio were negotiating with Cuban authorities, although Havana disputed his characterization of the contacts. Trump has separately called Cuba "a failing nation" and described it as being on the precipice of collapse.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded by calling the coalition a "reactionary and neocolonial" initiative that threatened Latin American sovereignty.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said it represented a "grave threat" to regional peace and accused participating governments of subordinating themselves to Washington, according to Diario de Cuba.

In a March analysis, the same Cuban outlet contended that the coalition reflected Cuba's increasing political isolation as more Latin American governments aligned themselves with Washington and distanced themselves from Havana.

The funding also could give Shield of the Americas greater operational capacity. Shortly after its launch, Chatham House noted that the initiative lacked dedicated resources for intelligence-sharing, joint exercises and the interception of illicit cross-border flows.

Because the four recipients participate in Shield of the Americas, the transfer could begin addressing that gap. However, Washington has not described the $52 million reallocation as an operation against Cuba or said the money will be used to intercept Cuban vessels, restrict Cuban intelligence activities or disrupt the island's overseas programs.

Read More

• Peru's new U.S. opening: The harder test begins now
• Peru joins U.S.-led anti-cartel coalition as Rubio ends tour
• Colombia, U.S. launch new phase of cooperation after Rubio visit
  
  
  

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Military Madness > Germany's secretive unit provides arms to Kiev - FT

 

German military operates secretive unit to provide arms to Kiev – media

A Ukraine conflict monitoring group has evolved into a key weapons procurement hub, the FT has reported

Published 15 Sep, 2026 22:36 | Updated 16 Sep, 2026 05:33

FILE PHOTO. ©  Getty Images / Jens Buettner

The German Defense Ministry has a secretive military unit dedicated solely to facilitating cooperation between Berlin and Kiev, including meeting Ukraine’s weapons demands, the Financial Times has reported.

Dubbed Sonderstab Ukraine (Special Staff Ukraine), the unit processes arms procurement contracts signed by Kiev under Berlin’s military support program, which amounts to €11.5 billion ($13.27 billion) this year alone.

Described by one of the FT’s sources as an “incredibly un-German” unit, Special Staff Ukraine prides itself on signing off on Kiev’s demands in less than two weeks while bypassing the standard procurement rules that apply to Germany’s own armed forces, the Bundeswehr. The arrangement is possible because Ukraine, rather than Berlin, signs the contracts, according to the FT.

“Kiev provided the shopping list. Berlin paid the bill,” the outlet said, describing the unit’s operations. The FT said it enjoys strong political backing from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Read more

Berlin slams Kiev for not spending aid cash on German guns

Created soon after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the unit was initially tasked with monitoring the fighting and briefing Berlin’s political leadership on developments. Several months later, it pivoted heavily toward facilitating military support for Kiev.

The unit was formed and initially led by Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, who now heads Germany’s Land Forces. Known for his hardline stance on Russia, Freuding claimed in March that a full-fledged conflict between Moscow and NATO could occur as early as 2029 and said Ukrainian instructors would help the German military train for the allegedly looming confrontation.

The unit’s current commander, Brigadier General Joachim Kaschke, told the FT that it was entirely up to Kiev how to spend the German money. “We are not there to advise them – there is no ‘mentoring’,” he stated, adding that Berlin simply connects the relevant Ukrainian officials with German arms manufacturers.

Read more

Berlin to buy 50,000 attack drones for Kiev – Reuters

At some point, cooperation between Berlin and Kiev expanded beyond simple arms exports, with Ukrainian companies gaining access to the NATO market through joint ventures with German partners, alarming Germany’s arms manufacturers. “The situation with Ukraine has changed, and it’s trying to become an exporter as well as an importer,” a defense contractor executive told the FT. “It’s becoming more political.”

Berlin has also complained that Kiev is not spending enough of its Western-provided procurement funds on German weapons. Last week, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned that Germany would struggle to justify its continued support for Ukraine to its people if it did not bring any benefits.

“We stand by you, we support you. But I also have to explain this to German taxpayers, and the very least you can do is to involve the German defense industry in all procurement measures,” Wadephul told Bild.

Berlin emerged as Kiev’s single biggest military donor after Washington drastically scaled back its assistance under US President Donald Trump. Germany has provided or earmarked a total of €57.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine, according to German government data.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has prioritized a military buildup, including assistance to Kiev, despite acknowledging that his country’s own economy is in a “structural crisis.” His government amended the constitutional debt brake to fund the buildup and passed a 2026 budget allocating a record €108.2 billion to defense and €11.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

The spending comes despite warnings from the German central bank that the country is on course to record its largest budget deficit since reunification by 2028.

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