KAMPALA – Ugandan and Congolese forces have successfully rescued at least 200 civilians during a specialized raid on an Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ugandan military announced on Monday.
The operation, part of the ongoing “Operation Shujaa,” targeted a base along the River Epulu. According to UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi, many of those freed were women and children, including a 14-year-old girl who had been held for months.
The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State a decade ago, has long used the dense forests of eastern Congo to launch attacks on both sides of the border.
“Many of the rescued appear frail and are suffering from malaria and respiratory infections,” the UPDF statement said. The survivors have been moved to a military hospital for triage.
While the rescue is seen as a tactical victory, security experts warn that the ADF remains a potent threat due to its decentralized cell structure. In a separate incident back in Kampala, authorities are investigating the targeted killing of a prominent local evangelist, raising fears of extremist sleeper cells operating within the capital.
