The United Nations’ expert researchers have revealed the terrorist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), remains a very big security threat to the region despite facing intense attacks by Ugandan and Congolese forces in the eastern part of the vast and mineral rich country.
“While the joint (Uganda and DRC) military operations led to a relative lull in ADF activities towards the end of 2022, the armed group remained resilient, demonstrating its capability to continue conducting deadly attacks, including an attack in Uganda, on 12 December 2022, a bombing in Kasindi and frequent attacks on civilians, including in Mukondi,” said the most Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued on June 13, 2023.
Operation Shuja – a joint operation of FARDC and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces is still ongoing in Beni territory, North Kivu, and in southern Ituri.
The UN’s report comes in the wake of an ADF attack on a school in Kasese District, western Uganda, in which 42 people were killed.
UN experts reported that ADF continues to expand its regional influence and also recruit new fighters.
For example, ADF sent combatants and collaborators on scouting missions as it attempted to further expand its area of operations beyond North Kivu and Ituri Provinces.
“ADF sought to recruit and conduct attacks in Kinshasa and in Tshoppo, Haut-Uélé and South Kivu Provinces,” the report seen by ChimpReports reads in part.
The report further indicated that ADF increased its activity in South Kivu, where the armed group had long- standing networks.
“ADF continued recruiting in several mosques in Uvira and Kalemie,” the report observed, adding, “Since late 2021, it has also held several meetings with representatives of Da’esh and/or Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama‘a in Mozambique, in South Kivu, to discuss operational strategy and tactics.”
One such encounter occurred in Shabunda territory, in June 2022, following a similar meeting in Kigoma, Tanzania, in August 2021.9
In early 2023, Ibn Omar and Sheikh Abu Yassir Hassan, the military and spiritual leaders of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama‘a in Mozambique, respectively, travelled to South Kivu, where they met with senior members of the leadership of ADF.
In addition, ADF contacted the Mai-Mai Malaika based around Salamabila, Maniema Province.
Divisions
However, internal tensions within the leadership of ADF were reported.
In January 2023, the majority of combatants of the smaller ADF splinter group led by Benjamin Kisokeranio, Hassan Nyanzi alias Isaac (Jamil Mukulu’s son) and Muzaya , rejoined ADF or surrendered to FARDC, after the arrest of Kisokeranio, in January 2022, and recent Shuja operations in their area around Mwalika weakened the group.
In 2022, Amigo, one of the main leaders of ADF operating in Mwalika, was sidelined by Seka Baluku (alias Musa Baluku, who sent a trusted commander, Seka Umaru, to oversee Amigo’s activities and assume command of his camp.
The leadership of ADF had concerns regarding Amigo’s closeness to some FARDC members and his management of funds.
UN experts said this had an impact on the ADF, which lost several commanders, including Boaz, who was killed in combat in Ituri.
ADF also had to constantly move its camps, sometimes on a daily basis, to avoid being targeted by those operations.
Nevertheless, Museveni said UPDF would relentlessly pursue ADF until it’s defeated.
“As a consequence of the eyes in the sky (drones) and long-distance deadly fire, followed by infantry troops on the ground, …. in the huge area West of the Rwenzori, the terrorists have run away to beyond the Beni- Eringeti- Komanda-Bunya Road; and the terrorists can no longer concentrate in big groups,” said Museveni.
He said ADF’s attacks on Ugandan territory would not compel him to withdraw forces from Congo.
“Anyway, our forces are not going to be pulled back from the Mwalika Valley where they are hunting the Arab, Abua-Kasi, who replaced the killed Mulaalo and hunting Amigo,” said Museveni.
“Their action, the desperate, cowardly, terrorist action, therefore, will not save them. We are bringing new forces to the Uganda side as we continue the hunting on the Congo side,” he added.