Ugandan and Congolese Forces Rescue 200 Civilians in Raid on ADF Camp in Eastern DR Congo

Ugandan and Congolese forces say they rescued at least 200 civilians during a raid on an Allied Democratic Forces camp in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The captives, including a 14-year-old girl, were reportedly held in harsh conditions with many suffering illness and exhaustion. The ADF, a militant group active in the region since the 1990s, is accused of mass killings and kidnappings.

Ugandan and Congolese forces have reported rescuing at least 200 civilians during a coordinated military raid on a suspected terrorist camp in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last week, according to a statement from the Ugandan military on Monday.
The operation targeted fighters linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group that has been active in eastern DR Congo for years and is widely blamed for repeated attacks on civilian communities. The ADF has been accused of mass killings, abductions, and widespread human rights abuses in the region, with thousands of civilians reportedly killed since it intensified its operations around 2014, according to United Nations figures.
The rescued civilians were reportedly being held at a camp along the River Epulu. Among those freed was a 14-year-old girl, highlighting the presence of minors among the captives. Uganda’s military spokesperson said the rescue operation took place last week, and confirmed that Ugandan and Congolese troops worked together during the raid.
According to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), many of the freed individuals appeared in poor physical condition after prolonged captivity. Several were described as frail, suffering from untreated illnesses including malaria, respiratory infections, and severe exhaustion, reflecting the harsh conditions in which they were held.
Uganda deployed troops into eastern DR Congo in 2021 in coordination with the Congolese government as part of joint operations aimed at dismantling ADF strongholds and improving security in the volatile region. The latest raid is part of ongoing military efforts to weaken the group’s presence in forested areas where it is believed to operate in small, mobile units.
The ADF originated in the mid-1990s, initially launching attacks against Ugandan authorities from bases in western Uganda before being pushed back across the border into DR Congo in the early 2000s. Since then, it has continued to operate from remote areas in eastern Congo, exploiting difficult terrain and weak state presence to carry out attacks, kidnappings, and forced recruitment.
Authorities in DR Congo have repeatedly accused the group of abducting large numbers of civilians and forcing young women and girls into captivity, including coercive marriages. The latest rescue effort underscores ongoing security challenges in the region, where armed groups continue to threaten civilian populations despite sustained military operations.