23 rebels belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)

This attack is part of President Museveni’s promise of the second phase of the military operation “Shuja”, which is a Kiswahili word for bravery, aimed at defeating the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Eastern Congo.

Operation Shuja is a joint operation of UPDF and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The operation was launched on November 30, 2021.

According to our sources, the attack was carried out in the villages of Makusa and Makumo, on the border with the province of North- Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The spokesman for the Congolese army in Ituri, Lieutenant Jules Ngongo, confirmed the attack but refused to divulge any more details beyond saying that the ADF was now on its last leg and would be defeated soon.

Mambasa Territory Administrator Jefferson Abdallah says that the attack set the stage for the return of locals to their villages after having fled in the face of several rebel incursions into the area.

This latest victory against the ADF is another notch in the military belt of Congo and Uganda.

The joint operation between the UPDF and Congolese army has led to other victories such as the capture of Boga Airfield from the ADF rebels.

The mineral-rich Boga, located about 68 kilometres from Bunia, has been under the control of the ADF.

The UPDF and Congolese armies are not resting on their laurels, with combat vehicles having already crossed into Burasi in the Democratic Republic of Congo through River Semiliki, according to Peter Mugisa the Mountain Division Spokesperson.

On Tuesday this week, UPDF and Congolese soldiers also bombed ADF positions in Makolo-Makolo forest towards Zunguluka in the territory of Irumu forest and killed 12 ADF rebels.

A week ago, in discussing the second phase of the operation against the ADF, Museveni addressed a delegation of security chiefs from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at State Lodge Nakasero and assured them that this second phase will be the end of ADF.

The DRC delegation was led by Congo’s Minister in charge of National Defence Unit Dr. Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga.

“We should really work together and finish this problem. This was phase one. We are now ready for phase two. It is very easy for us to destroy those groups,” Museveni said.

The joint operation has reaped victories in the shape of the capture of several ADF camps including the sprawling Kambi Ya Yua camp and secured major routes in Eastern Congo as the ADF has taken to the hills, metaphorically and literally.

Museveni said the DRC should set in train local and regional security mechanisms in order to head off any future insurgencies in the country and region.

“Our experience here is that, once you attack concentrations of the terrorists and they see that you have the capacity, they can’t challenge you army to army, they now go to pure terrorism. They break into small groups and they go to attack villagers,” Museveni said

Museveni listed five elements necessary to securing the region, these he said involved using mobile forces, zonal forces, village-level local defence units, strategic forces (air forces, artillery) and special forces.

“That’s why for us, we add the third force. These are called local defence units per village where there’s a threat. And they don’t have to be many. When the other people come to kill villagers, they will be there to repulse them,” he said.