The Ugandan army, the UPDF has launched an airstrike against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) hideouts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Museveni has revealed.
According to the president, the attack was carried out on Friday with permission from the Congolese government and consequently destroyed “a big terrorist camp of ADF“
“This location is beyond the limit of exploitation that we had agreed with Congo Government that runs Beni−Mbau junction−Eoingeti−Komanda−Kasindi−Beni. Within the area that we have been allowed to operate, we have destroyed all the camps the reconnaissance has identified, killed a lot of terrorists, captured others and emancipated the much terrorized wanainchi of the area,” Museveni said on Sunday afternoon.
According to the president, since this camp where ADF fighters had sought refugee due to hot pursuit was far away from the area of operation agreed upon by both governments , Uganda had to seek permission from their counterparts in DRC before carrying out the latest airstrikes.
Museveni says that having been defeated in the original hideouts, ADF rebels had to run far away to areas which are not catered for by the agreement between the Ugandan government and their Congolese counterparts.
He however warned that the “terrorists” will be followed wherever they go to get “their deserved reward.”
In November last year, the Ugandan army launched air and artillery strikes on ADF camps in the thick Eastern DRC forests.
The strikes targeted four ADF camps in Kambi Ya Yua, Tondoli, Belu 1 and Belu 2.
The ADF was formed out of remnants of the National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU) and Jamilu Mukulu was the group’s founding leader until a few years ago when he was captured by the Tanzanian forces and repatriated back to Uganda where he is currently facing charges related to terrorism.
They operate in North Kivu which borders other provinces including Ituri to the north and South Kivu to the South and has been a battle ground for a number of rival armed ethnic groups since 1998.