Dem. Rep. of Congo army rescues 127 civilians from ADF captivity: Spokesman

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo said Thursday that it rescued 127 civilians from Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.

Army spokesman in Ituri province, Lieut. Jules Ngongo, said the civilians were rescued after an intensive operation carried out by the army.

“We rescued the civilians from Manzabuko village, located in the chiefdom of Walese-vonkutu south of Irumu. The rescued civilians informed us that they have spent more than a month in captivity,” he said.

Ngongo said the rescue was made by soldiers who were on patrol from the 3062nd Leopard Battalion based in Bamande village.

“We have decided to pursue the ADF rebels from their hideouts. The order to pursue the rebels wherever they are has been made by the Commander of Operations in Ituri, Lieut. Gen. Johnny Luboya N’kashama,” he added.

Those rescued are being kept in Bamande as arrangements to return them to their homes are being made.

Ngongo said more than 500 hostages have been freed since the beginning of 2022 by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ADF rebels, who originated from Uganda in 1990s, have for years been attacking villages and killing civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Recently, the Ugandan and Congolese governments resolved to jointly carry out operations to eliminate the rebels.