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Ugandan military reports rescue of 200 ADF hostages in DRC
Ugandan and Congolese soldiers rescued at least 200 civilians in a raid on an Islamist camp in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week, Uganda's military said in a statement. The Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF) said the raid targeted a Ugandan group operating in eastern Congo, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which pledged allegiance to the self-styled "Islamic State" some decade ago. What did the UPDF military say about the operation? The military said that the raid targeted a camp along the River Epulu in the east of the DRC. It was part of the joint "Operation Shujaa," between the UPDF and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) that had "intensified" since January of this year, the military said, "leading to significant gains." The camp was under the control of what the UPDF termed a "notorious ADF commander, Ssebagala, also known as Mzee Mayor." It said that several ADF fighters were killed and a cache of weapons were recovered during the raid. The military said that it seized various weapons and explosives at the campImage: Ugandan military press More than 200 civilians were released from captivity, with a 14-year-old girl the youngest of the captives. The Overall Joint Commander of Operation Shujaa, Major General Stephen Mugerwa, was quoted as telling the rescued civilians that they were not in detention and urging them to cooperate. "You are not under detention. You are the victims of abduction, and we shall ensure you are handed over to the relevant authorities so you can reunite with your families," Mugerwa said. According to the military, many of the captives recounted harsh conditions, a lack of food, forced labor and punishment for disobedience during their captivity. "Several appeared frail, suffering from untreated illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections and physical exhaustion," the UPDF said. Forces from Uganda and the DRC have been operating in concert against the ADF since 2021Image: Ugandan military press Uganda reports improved conditions in DRC areas once held by ADF Last week's offense also targeted other ADF positions, including areas along the River Ituri, the UPDF said. Uganda and DRC forces have stepped up operations against the ADF in recent months, partly amid somewhat reduced tensions on another eastern DRC frontier not far to the south — with the M23 rebels allegedly supported by neighboring Rwanda. A fragile peace accord for that conflict came into forc...
Ugandan and Congolese forces rescue 200 from ISIL-backed ADF
Soldiers rescued the civilian captives who were being held by the Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked with ISIL.Ugandan and Congolese forces have reported the rescue of at least 200 civilians from captivity by an ISIL (ISIS)-linked rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).The captives were freed last week after being kidnapped by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Uganda’s military said on Monday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why are humanitarian crises in African countries so ignored?list 2 of 3Are commercial interests driving Uganda’s military operations in DR Congo?list 3 of 3Is ISIL a growing threat in the DR Congo and East Africa?end of listIt said those freed from the camp along the River Epulu that was run by the former Ugandan rebel force were in poor health.“Many [of the captives] recounted harsh conditions in captivity, including lack of food, forced labour, and punishment for disobedience,” a military statement said. “Several appeared frail, suffering from untreated illnesses such as malaria, respiratory infections, and physical exhaustion.”The ADF, also referred to by some experts and institutions as an ISIL affiliate in Central Africa (IS-CA), originally began in 1994 as a rebel group in Uganda, whose government it accused of persecuting Muslims. The group pledged allegiance to ISIL a decade ago.Twenty-five years ago, it crossed the border into eastern DRC after offensives by the Ugandan army. It is now based there and has stepped up attacks along the border of the two countries over the past decade or more.United Nations figures suggested it has killed thousands of civilians in eastern DRC, where the military accuses it of kidnapping large numbers of civilians and forcing young female captives into marriage.The ADF reinvigorated its activities last year as the DRC battled several other rebel groups in the east, the most prominent being the Rwandan-backed M23.Joint Ugandan-DRC operations intensifiedADF attacks on civilians have risen in recent months in parts of Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province despite joint Congolese-Ugandan military operations against the group. Earlier this month, at least 43 people were killed in an attack.The rescue of the captives announced on Monday was part of an offensive targeting ADF positions along the River Epulu. The Ugandan military said several ADF fighters were killed during the operation and a number of weapons were recovered.Uganda’s military also said...
UPDF-FARDC Rescue Over 200 Civilians from ADF Captivity in Eastern DRC
April 20, 2026 Joint forces of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have rescued more than 200 civilians from captivity following a major offensive against an Allied Democratic Forces camp along River Epulu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over 200 Rescued From ADF Captivity As UPDF-FARDC Intensify Operations ...
The joint forces of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have rescued more than 200 civilians from captivity following a major offensive against an Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) camp along River Epulu in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The camp was under the control of a notorious ADF commander, Ssebagala, also ...
