Special forces units from the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) are searching for remnants of the Allied Democratic Forces who might have fled after their camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo were shelled on November 30.

A statement released by the joint militaries on Thursday indicated that the search was ongoing.

“The Special Forces of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) supported by the Special Units of Uganda are now continuing with search operations in the area that we shelled at dawn on November 30, 2021, by the two militaries,” a statement signed by UPDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso and Gen. Maj. Kasonga Bicangu the spokesperson of FARDC stated.

The bombardments targeted ADF positions in North Kivu, as well as in the neighbouring Ituri province to the northeast.

The statement could also be a confirmation by the army that their joint infantry teams were already in the Ituri province.

The joint military action by the UPDF and FARDC came shortly after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi authorised Uganda’s troops to enter into Congo to help fight the rebel group blamed for attacks in eastern Congo that have killed more than 1,000 people over the past several years.

It also came two weeks after two twin bomb attacks in Kampala that left four people dead after suicide bombers targeted the Central Police Station and Parliamentary Avenue simultaneously on November 16.

Reports from security indicate that several ADF rebels might have been killed in the Tuesday morning attacks that took them unaware.

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