28 hostages escape from ADF rebels in DR Congo

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - At least 28 people who were abducted more than a month ago by members of the Allied Defense Forces (ADF) rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo managed to escape, local sources said Sunday.

According to Lieut. Pius Mbooka, a security officer in Ituri province, ADF rebels clashed for several hours with a local militia called Mai-Mai Wazalendo in Mayuwano forest in Mambasa territory, giving the hostages the opportunity to flee.

Mbooka said the hostages arrived in the Mayuwano trading center just outside Mayuwano forest, from where they will be taken back to their villages by the government.

One of the hostages who fled, Wilson Saramba, said there is another group of ADF rebels in the forest holding over 120 hostages who are being severely mistreated and underfed.

A local leader in Mambasa, Henry Sangara, called on the army to increase the number of soldiers in their area to stop rebels from abducting civilians. He also asked the army to do all it can to rescue the hostages still being held in the forest.

ADF rebels originated from Uganda in the mid-1990’s, where they fought government forces with the intention of overthrowing the government of President Yoweri Museveni. They were overpowered by the army and fled to forests in the DR Congo, from where they attack villages, killing innocent civilians.