The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, Nov. 30, freed and delivered over 40 locals captured by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group in the country, to MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeepers.
Twenty-three minors were among the hostages rotting away in the ADF group’s captivity before the forces came to their rescue, handing them over to MONUSCO and representatives of the civil society in the country. The DR Congo military had joined hands with the Ugandan Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) to fight ADF and other criminal organisations operating in the two states.
“The persons we are presenting today are among the fruits of joint operations. It is the responsibility of the civil society to orient the adults so that they can return to their natural environment,” declared Mak Hazukay, the spokesperson of Operations Sokola 1 in the grand north.
Hazukaysai added that the forces remain determined to eradicate the ADF fighters, who continue to inflict pain on the population with their incessant attacks. He noted that the real balance sheet of the operations within the last three years would be measured through witness accounts of the population revealing the return to normal life in the zones under the control of the rebels.
Pepin Kavotha, the president of the Beni civil society, however, called on the community to welcome the former hostages who were constrained to join the enemy. He underlined the fact that they merit a peaceful and dignified life as other Congolese citizens after having suffered the consequences of the conflict.
The joint operation is aimed at completely eradicating the ADF, which continues to alarmingly escalate insecurity in the Beni and Mambasa regions. Despite being pushed east into North Kivu, the rebels continue to execute deadly attacks on people, especially along the Mbau-Kamango and Eringeti-Kainama highways.
Now in its fourth year, the joint operations seem to have progressed, but challenges remain. Despite efforts by the forces to stabilise the eastern DR Congo, insecurity persists, causing uncertainty and concern among local populations.
The international community has called for the intensification of efforts in the fight against insecurity, but there have been no concrete responses.
The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in collaboration with the Ugandan Peoples Defense Forces, rescued over 40 hostages from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on November 30. Among the freed individuals were 23 minors, who were handed over to the United Nations peacekeepers, MONUSCO, and civil society representatives. This joint operation aims to eradicate the ADF, which has been causing significant insecurity in the Beni and Mambasa regions through persistent attacks.
Mak Hazukay, spokesperson for Operations Sokola 1, emphasized the forces’ commitment to eliminating the ADF and restoring normalcy in affected areas. Pepin Kavotha, president of the Beni civil society, urged the community to support the former hostages, recognizing their right to a dignified life post-captivity. While the four-year operation has made some progress, challenges persist, and the international community’s call for intensified efforts remains unheeded.