The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have killed 28 combatants in joint operations.
Defence Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) fighters were killed in the ongoing Operation Shujaa and eight guns were recovered.
“Preliminary results show that our forces harvested the following: 08 SMGs, 28 combatants were put out of action,” Gen Kulayigye said on Sunday.
According to him, one of those killed is suspected to be a commander or an improvised explosive device (IED) expert.
“And amongst the 28 there is one foreigner who seems to be an IED expert or commander,” Gen Kulayigye noted.
At the start of this month, the joint Operation Shujaa forces attacked ADF camps in Kabasha, North Kivu and rescued a doctor who had been taken as a hostage.
The joint operations in North Kivu and Ituri provinces were launched following a triple suicide bombing in Uganda’s capital city Kampala in which seven people were killed and dozens injured.
ADF leader Nkalubo sanctioned
Last week, the European Union (EU) sanctioned the leader of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels over insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
EU imposed travel restrictions and an asset freeze on Meddie Nkalubo, alias Mohammed Ali Nkalubo, Abul Jihad, Punny Boy, a senior ADF leader, accusing him, among others, of serious human rights violations and abuses and for sustaining the armed conflict in the DRC.
In the newest sanctions, ADF leader Nkalubo, who is being hunted by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in eastern DRC, was sanctioned for contributions to abductions and killings in Uganda and the DRC.
“Owing to his senior leading position and various responsibilities in the ADF, Meddie Nkalubo is, therefore, involved in planning, directing or committing acts that constitute serious human rights violations or abuses in the DRC. He is also responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC,” the statement reads in part.
ADF has been attacking and killing civilians in eastern DR Congo for over two decades. The group killed more than 1,300 civilians last year, according to the UN.
The ADF pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019. Last year, the U.S. placed the ADF on its list of “terrorist organizations” affiliated with ISIS.