Congo-Uganda Joint Operation: A Striking Blow Against ADF Rebels

Congo-Uganda Joint Operation: A Striking Blow Against ADF Rebels

Successful Offensive Against ADF Rebels in Congo

The Ugandan army involved in combating the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo publicized on Thursday that they have confidently eliminated a staggering 548 ADF members. Maj. Bilal Katamba, a spokesperson for the Ugandan army, reported that the military operation has significantly reduced the rebel group’s capacity to continue fighting. The army has also seized numerous weaponry assets from the defeated ADF combatants.

Freedom for Rebel Captives

Fifty rebels have been detained, while thirty-one rebels have surrendered to the advancing military force, Katamba reported. Additionally, 156 civilians have been liberated from captivity under the ADF rebels. While no precise figures were given about the casualities the military force suffered during the action, a spokesperson noted that during wartime, armies often refrain from revealing actual casualty numbers.

(Read Also: Uganda-DRC Joint Forces Kill Over 500 ADF Rebels in Operation Shujaa)

Mixing Air and Ground Strikes

In the initial stages of the offensive against the ADF, the joint operation utilized jet fighters and helicopter gunships to target and overwhelm rebel camps before deploying ground forces to pursue and neutralize fleeing adversaries.

ADF’s Origin and Purpose

The ADF took root in Uganda in the 1990s with the primary objective of overthrowing President Yoweri Museveni. However, they were swiftly repelled by government forces, forcing them to retreat to the forests of the Congo. From these forest havens, they perpetrated attacks on surrounding villages, claimed innocent lives, and wreaked havoc on the local inhabitants.

(Read Also: Uganda Airlines Passengers Survive Scare After Flight Turns Back)

Joint Operation: A Tactical Response to ADF Offensives

The year 2021 was notably marked by a shocking increase in savage attacks by ADF rebels, resulting in the violent demise of hundreds of innocent civilians. Charged with the responsibility of safeguarding their people, the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda made a strategic decision to jointly combat the growing threat posed by the ADF. Uganda deployed its troops in the Congo in November 2021, effectively kick-starting this major joint operation aimed at hunting down and neutralizing ADF rebels.

(Read Also: DRC and Uganda Begin Talks on Possible Use of Planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline)

Continued Efforts Towards Peace and Stability

The determined and resolute military operations by the joint forces demonstrate a significant step in the ongoing battle against terrorist groups like the ADF in Africa. With collaborative strategies and unified action, the Congolese and Ugandan forces continue their unyielding efforts to establish peace and stability in regions affected by rebel insurgency. As the fight for control continues, the aim remains unswerving—to counter the rebellious forces, rescue innocent captives, and restore tranquility to their homeland.