ADF abduct 10 in reprisal attack on Congolese

Dec 01, 2021

For months now, ADF rebels have been attacking and butchering Congolese residents, forcing hundreds of them to flee to Uganda

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Chris Kiwawulo
Journalist @New Vision

The Allied Democratic Force (ADF) rebels have launched a reprisal attack on Congolese civilians following the pounding of their camps by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Tuesday morning.

Sources in eastern DR Congo revealed that the rebels attacked the chiefdom of Bashu in North Kivu province on Tuesday afternoon, and abducted over 10 residents.

“On November 30 in the afternoon, the ADF rebels made an incursion precisely in Musamambu, in the south-east of the territory of Beni. On the spot we deplore the disappearance of more than 10 people who have been kidnapped by these rebels,” the source quoted residents as saying.

According to the source, residents immediately contacted the Congolese army to inform them and asked for protection.

“They have transmitted all the names of the abducted civilians to the authorities for action,” the source added.

The abductions follow the pounding of four ADF camps by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) early Tuesday morning.

The UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso, confirmed the attacks on ADF camps.

“This morning, we have launched joint air and artillery strikes against ADF camps with our Congolese allies.”

Sources in Congo said the attacks have been going on since around 5:30 am on Tuesday, and that they targeted ADF camps in North Kivu province, Eastern DR Congo.

“The attacks followed recent talks between Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and his DR Congo counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi in which the latter cleared the UPDF to launch attacks against the ADF camps,” the source added.

For months now, ADF rebels have been attacking and butchering Congolese residents, forcing hundreds of them to flee to Uganda.

Ugandan security has since intensified the screening of refugees entering the country following reports that ADF elements were using the opportunity to as well cross into Uganda.

Over 50 suspected ADF elements have so far been arrested during operations across the country.  The ADF were reportedly entering the country disguising themselves as refugees.

In DR Congo, over 100 ADF fighters and their collaborators, several of them Ugandans, have been arrested by Congolese authorities.

In Uganda, the ADF rebels have been responsible for a series of bomb attacks, in which four suicide bombers died. Some other five innocent lives perished in the attacks, which also left many with injuries.

The ADF terrorists first attacked Digida pork joint in Komamboga, Kawempe division, on October 23 where one person perished.

Later on October 25, a suicide bomber who was aboard a Bushenyi-bound bus died after a bomb he was carrying exploded at Lungala in Mpigi district.

On November 16, two bombs exploded simultaneously at Central Police Station and at Jubilee House on Parliament Avenue. In these attacks, seven people died including three suicide bombers.

There is an influx of Congolese refugees to Uganda following intensified fighting between the Congolese army and suspected rebels in Bukavu, Eastern DR Congo, in the past week.

New Vision has established that hundreds of Congolese have been forced to run away from their homes with their families and household items, including animals, to seek refuge in Uganda. The Congolese are in the districts of Kasese, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo and Kisoro.

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