DR Congo Destroys 5 ADF Rebel Camps In Irumu Territory
Despite the DR Congo army recording victory after destroying some ADF camps, the group has also killed more civilians.
The Democratic Republic of Congo national army has announced the destruction of five hideouts of the Ugandan rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) movement in Irumu territory of Ituri province.
“The armed forces have destroyed several bastions of the ADF in the forest of Irumu territory. These sites are considered as their hideouts after attacks against civilians,” Lt. Jules Ngongo, army spokesperson revealed in a statement on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.
“The armed forces pounded these camps with combat helicopters. At this moment, the enemies are in disarray. Destruction is enormous.”
A humanitarian source in the region informed HumAngle that the regular forces “on Monday and Tuesday effectively pounded ADF camps.”
A local civil society activist who identified himself as Dieudonne Malangay also confirmed that army helicopters bombarded ADF camps in the area.
“In spite of the bombardments, the ADF fighters today killed four civilians and razed down seven houses in the zone,” Malangay revealed.
The provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have been under a state of siege declared by DR Congo leader, President Felix Tshisekedi on May 6, 2021 with the objective of putting an end to the activities of armed groups which terrorise civilians in the provinces.
The ADF is a Ugandan rebel group which has been combating the government of President Yoweri Museveni for several years now.
However, for the past 25 years, the group has pitched tents in Eastern DR Congo and has been responsible for the deaths of 6,000 civilians since 2013, according to figures given by the Congolese Episcopal Conference.
According to the Kivu Security Barometer (KSB), the ADF is considered the most murderous of the 122 armed groups operating in the Eastern DR Congo.
In March this year, the United States placed the ADF among the terrorist groups affiliated to the Islamic State.
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