Ugandan forces conducted precise artillery strikes on Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) camps in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend, according to a statement from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF). The operation, named Operation Shujaa, was a joint effort with the Congolese army (FARDC) and aimed to eliminate one of the region's most elusive militant groups. Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, confirmed that the strikes took place on November 22 and 23 in Mambasa territory, near Babunga village and south of the Epulu River. Intelligence and local reports suggest the ADF suffered significant casualties, but the exact numbers remain unverified.
The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group that crossed into eastern Congo over two decades ago, has been implicated in numerous atrocities, including massacres, bomb attacks, and cross-border plots. The group's cells operate in the dense forests, often splitting into smaller units to evade detection. With the recent strikes, the UPDF aims to dismantle ADF positions and disrupt their logistical networks. Uganda deployed troops to eastern DRC in late 2021, approved by Kinshasa, in response to cross-border attacks attributed to the ADF. Despite the claimed battlefield gains, the ADF continues to pose a threat, with deadly ambushes and reprisals in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
The statement also mentioned that ADF leader Musa Baluku was believed to have been present at one of the camps during the strikes, but his current status is unclear. Baluku leads an ADF faction aligned with the Islamic State and has been a focus of regional counter-insurgency efforts. The UPDF's actions come as a response to the ADF's ongoing activities, which have caused significant concern in the region.
