DRC armed forces continue operation against ADF rebel troops

By

Darell Maurice

The commander of the third zone defense of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), Major General Leo Mushale, said he was satisfied with the results of the army’s military operations against the Ugandan rebels of the ADF in Beni.

“For now, the security situation has improved in Beni territory following the hunt for ADF rebels,” stated Major General Leo Mushale, adding “I think in my opinion that the hunt against armed groups has advances considerably.”

He said that the villages once empty are now repopulated again. People, who were afraid to go to the fields, can again normally engage in their activities.

Appearances from ADF rebels are however now more frequent in this part of North Kivu, noted Major General Leo Mushale.

“It is already a given. But do not cross your fingers and say it’s over. There is one way to go: we must eradicate the phenomenon (ADF),” he said.

According to civil society, several hundred people have been killed in Beni territory in the past two years. Ugandan ADF rebels have been singled out.

Major General Leo Mushale also raised the issue of Rwandan FDLR rebels, stating they were still rife in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

Hundreds of FDLR rebels were neutralized in disarmament operations in those two provinces, he said.

“We have neutralized FDLR troops, they are wandering in nature. But we are behind, we are tracking them down,” said the commander of the third FARDC zone defense.

Darell Maurice

Darell Maurice is a Journalist based in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital city Kinshasa and works for Canal7kintv. He also blogs here.