In brief
The Ugandan army has successfully rescued more than 200 civilians from a camp held by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The operation, conducted in collaboration with Congolese forces, highlighted the ongoing struggle against this militant group known for abductions and violence. Many of the rescued individuals reported harsh conditions during their captivity, and while the ADF has been active for decades, its association with the Islamic State poses new challenges in the region.
More than 200 civilians held captive in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo by an armed group linked to the Islamic State have been rescued in an army operation, the military in neighbouring Uganda has said.Ugandan soldiers, working with their Congolese counterparts, targeted a camp controlled by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group that has its origins in Uganda.Among those freed were children, with the youngest being a 14-year-old girl, according to a Ugandan statement.The ADF was originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s by people disgruntled with the government's treatment of Muslims. After being routed by the army, its remnants fled across the border.Since 2021, Uganda and DR Congo have launched a joint offensive against the ADF, yet attacks by the group persist.While the exact timing and circumstances of the rescues remain unclear, the Ugandan army reported that captives described harsh conditions in captivity, including lack of food, forced labour and punishment for disobedience. Some were found frail and suffering from malaria and exhaustion.Maj Gen Stephen Mugerwa, leading the operation, assured the freed individuals that they were victims of abduction and would be reunited with their families.The rescue mission also resulted in the death of several ADF fighters, with a cache of weapons seized. However, the army did not disclose any casualties on the Ugandan or Congolese side.Operating within DR Congo for two decades, the ADF has become notorious for abductions and killings. Its leader pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2016, escalating the group's impact in the region.The ADF has been implicated in attacks, including suicide bombings in Uganda and various incidents within eastern DR Congo that demonstrate the group’s volatile and violent presence.
