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Joint military operation rescues abducted civilians
More than 200 civilians, including children, were freed from an armed group with ties to the Islamic State in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a joint operation by Ugandan and Congolese forces, Uganda's military announced Tuesday.
Operation targets ADF stronghold
The raid targeted a camp controlled by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group that originated in Uganda in the 1990s before relocating to Congo. Among those rescued was a 14-year-old girl, according to a Ugandan military statement.
Survivors described brutal conditions in captivity, including forced labor, food deprivation, and physical punishment for disobedience. Some were found in poor health, suffering from malaria, exhaustion, and respiratory issues.
Military reassures freed hostages
"You are not under detention. You are victims of abduction, and we will ensure you are handed over to the relevant authorities to reunite with your families,"
Maj Gen Stephen Mugerwa, Commander of the Uganda-DRC joint mission
ADF's violent history and IS affiliation
The ADF, originally formed by Ugandan dissidents protesting government treatment of Muslims, was driven out of Uganda in the late 1990s and established bases in eastern DRC. Despite a 2021 joint military offensive by Uganda and Congo, the group has continued attacks, including suicide bombings in Kampala in 2021 and assaults on schools in western Uganda in 2023.
The group's leader, Musa Seka Baluku, pledged allegiance to IS in 2016, though the Islamic State only publicly acknowledged its presence in the region in 2019. In Congo, the ADF is notorious for kidnappings and mass killings, accounting for over half of civilian deaths in the conflict-ridden east during a six-month period in 2024, according to a BBC Monitoring study.
Human rights abuses documented
Amnesty International reported late last year that ADF attacks, including abductions and killings, were occurring with "alarming frequency." Survivors recounted fleeing armed fighters wielding guns and blades, while former hostages described prolonged captivity marked by starvation and forced labor. Women and girls were subjected to sexual slavery, the rights group said.
Outcome of the raid
The Ugandan military reported that several ADF fighters were killed during the operation and a weapons cache was seized. No casualties were reported among Ugandan or Congolese forces.
